Brooklyn Nets admit number of off-court problems as season ends with Boston Celtics’ first-round sweep

NEW YORK – After their end of season sweep by Boston Celticsthe brooklyn network officially acknowledged on Monday night what has been clear throughout their season: All the issues they tackle off the floor have a big impact on how they play on it.

“I think it’s just really emotionally heavy this season,” the Nets defender Kyrie Irving said after their 116-112 Game 4 loss. “We all felt it. I felt like I let the team down at a time when I couldn’t play. We’re trying to do everything we can to get me to play, but I’m playing. I never wanted that to be just about me. And I think it became a distraction. And as you can see, we just had some drastic changes.”

Irving’s admission is notable as his decision not to get a COVID-19 vaccine has affected everything the Nets have done throughout the season. They started the season in a cloud of uncertainty as New York City mandated vaccinations requiring all workers to be vaccinated to return to the workplace. The Nets refused to allow Irving to join as a part-time player before reversing course in December following a team-wide COVID-19 outbreak. Irving returned to the ring on January 5 but could only play in road games before New York City Mayor Eric Adams withdrew the powers to athletes and performers at the end of March.

In addition to Irving’s in and out condition, the Nets dealt with an ankle injury to protect Joe Harris that forced him to miss all but 14 games this season; an MCL injury to become a rising star Kevin Durant that forced him to take six weeks off; and a transaction at the end of February sent James Harden arrive Philadelphia 76ers exchange with Ben Simmons, Seth curry, Andre Drummond and the first two picks. The sale was a move that Harden later admitted was made in part because of Irving’s part-time status – and a deal that brought Simmons, who requested the exchange out of Philadelphia last summer, to a Nets team he would never play after after a herniated disc in the final two months of the season.

“I think that’s the big reason we’re in that position, a lack of continuity,” coach Steve Nash said of distractions off the court. “Kevin has to carry such a burden to keep us in the playoff picture. All the things off the field also play a part in what happens in the ring. They’re tied and there’s no doubt that it does. There’s been an impact. Over the course of the season, there’s too much, too much, that has held us back in moments and pockets.”

The Nets went on an 11-game losing streak without Durant, and throughout February, they lost 17 out of 20 games. As soon as it appeared, they were ready to turn a corner, another event that would change the course of their season. The Nets, selected by many pre-season to win the NBA championship, finished with a 44-38 record, good for a seventh place in the Eastern Conference – and a playoff berth bolstered by one game. play-in win Cleveland Cavaliers on April 12. Through it all, the Nets have never been able to find the rhythm every major team needs to achieve play-off success.

“No regrets,” Durant said after being swept away for the first time in his career. “S — happens. Don’t cry over spilled milk. It’s about how we can progress and get better from here. We see we’ve been through a lot this year. Everyone in the organization. We all know what we’ve been through. So there’s no time to feel regret or aggrieved. It’s about how we can find solutions to be better, to be proactive as a person. is an organization to get better.

“Even the great teams, they don’t focus on what they do, they just keep trying to keep getting better. So for us we know what our fault is, just trying. turned them into strengths. But we can’t help but regret what we did. S — just played the way it played.”

While the Nets were disappointed with how the season and series against the Celtics went, there was mostly a sense of relief when things finally came to an end on Monday night. All the pressure the Nets faced on and off the floor proved too much to overcome for a team that had never hit the high ceiling many thought was possible.

“We’ve lost a franchise player [in Harden] and we’ve got a returning franchise player [in Simmons]”, said Irving. But we didn’t get a chance to see him in the ring. No pressure for [Simmons] to step on the floor with us. Ben is very good. We have Ben, we have his support. He will be good for next year. But now we’re just turning the page and expecting what we’re building as a franchise and it’s really getting tougher. …

“That’s why I say it’s some extra motivation when you get carried away like this. Not necessarily playing as well as I would like, but now we’re just looking for the future as as a team and what we can achieve in the next few years and I’m very excited about that.”

Much of that future now revolves around Simmons, who was not at the Barclays Center on Monday night as he continued to deal with back issues, according to the Nets. For his part, Irving said: “I don’t really plan to go anywhere” when asked about a possible long-term extension this summer. He has a player selection this summer worth more than $36.5 million.

“There’s no question about where I’m going and how this is going to happen,” Irving said. “I’m here with [Durant], but I’m also here to build a great team. I have averaged many of these points, have done many things. Personally, I’ve been recognized for my greatness, but at this point in my career, I really just want to be part of a great team. And just dominate that way and don’t really focus on any personal praise and achievements. Just really building something special – that was my focus over the summer just building with my teammates. “

Durant also made it clear that he wants to see Nash return as the Nets coach next season.

“Steve has been handled in a crazy way over the past two years,” Durant said. “He’s had to deal with a lot of things as head coach, first-time coach – injury, injury, COVID, it’s just a lot of stuff he has to deal with. I’m proud. about how he focuses and his passion on us. We all continue to grow over the summer and see what happens.”

As the Nets embark on what could be an exciting summer, both Irving and Durant have made it clear that they believe bright days are ahead for the organization.

“When I say I’m here with Kev, I think that really requires us to manage this franchise together,” Irving said. “Next [owner] Joe [Tsai] and [general manager] Sean [Marks], just grouping our family members in the dressing room, in our organization. So it’s not just about me and Kev, I don’t want to make it just about that, we are the foundation but we have a couple of other people signing. I think we have to make some moves this season, really talk about it, and be really intentional about what we’re building and have fun with it, make it interesting. .

“And hopefully we start all over again as a team and as a family and we’re just really worried about us. Sometimes I feel like the noise of the outside world, the noise, the noise. outside, can get in. I’m not the type to let that happen, so when we’re building together as a team, I just think we need to be tougher mentally and Be more honest about what we want to accomplish. And just stick to the goal, stick to the mission.”