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There’s a wildly fresh buzz around the Brooklyn Nets to kick off the 2020-21 season. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are at the forefront of bubbling excitement, especially after a convincing season opener win. The situation has quickly pushed Irving to make a massive change.
Nets show promising potential in season opener
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After months of anticipation, the Brooklyn Nets star duo of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving made their official debut.
The two dynamic stars led the Nets to a comfortable 125-99 season opener over the Golden State Warriors. Durant played with great ease and fluidity on offense, scoring 22 points on 7 of 16 shots while exhausting all seven free throw attempts in 25 minutes played.
Meanwhile, Irving balanced the score at a game-high 26 points on an efficient 10-for-16 shot from the floor, including four 3-pointers. Brooklyn remained in control of the contest at all times as they led a healthy double-digit lead by the middle.
The Nets maintained that wide margin in the second that led to short nights for their two stars, with neither player taking the floor for more than 25 minutes. The Warriors are not the usual team outside of star guard Stephen Curry as they struggled to keep up.
The quality of the opponent may not have been tremendous, but the short time on the court together with Durant has led Irving to realize that quickly.
Kyrie Irving wants to quit “Hero Ball”
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Since the Nets reunited for training camp to begin in December, Kyrie Irving continues to work on his first real experience speaking alongside Kevin Durant.
The brief time they spent together quickly changed Irving’s mindset to take a different approach to the game. Following Tuesday’s contest, the 28-year-old expressed that he will abandon the “Hero Ball” mentality. (H / T New York Post)
“It’s been a long journey getting here and being able to master this craft and learn that it’s not just about ‘hero’ basketball. It’s about how great the team is, ”Irving said. “I got caught up in that in my career a couple of times, just trying to play ‘hero’ basketball, where the success of the team is really going to dictate how great you are as an individual and how great you play a role.
“Right now, I’m enjoying him, and I’m hugging him, not talking too much. It’s just about the stocks. Let’s go out there and throw the ball in the air, and see who is the best of the best. “
Throughout many stages of his career, Irving has struggled with his heavy reliance on that concept. His actions in that regard contributed significantly to distancing him from his teammates with the Boston Celtics.
These comments show a sign of maturity and responsibility with his role in Brooklyn. Irving wants to make the most of the promising couple with Durant.
Patience will be key
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The Nets are off to a promising start after a convincing season-opener win over the Warriors.
However, there will be many challenges ahead if they hope to become a title contender in the Eastern Conference. The Milwaukee Bucks, Miami Heat, Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors will pose formidable challenges.
The Nets will have their period of adjustment throughout the early years of the season as Irving and Durant further develop chemistry on the court. Brooklyn will also have to have a lot of patience to carry the former league MVP at his own pace. You are 18 months away from suffering an Achilles tendon tear.
The true testimony of the team will come from working through those difficult stages ahead. Irving will play a big role in that equation as he works to take on Durant to propel the franchise into a possible championship contest.
