Kyrie Irving

Brooklyn Nets: Inside The Numbers with Kyrie Irving

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Brooklyn Nets, Kyrie Irving

Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets is not your usual NBA player. He sees the world from a unique perspective. Whether it be his thoughts on the potential shape of that world or maybe how he goes about his day to day routine. Kyrie Irving has always been a black sheep as NBA stars go.

So when it was said that he would when Kyrie Irving said he would be dropping his Pre-Heat on November 11th (11/11), he briefly explained how much the number plays in the NBA.

He was born at 1:11. His father’s favorite number is 11. His jersey number is 11. His name, Kyrie Irving, holds 11 letters. After playing 11 games at Duke due to injury, he would be drafted pick one of round one (1:1) in 2011. He scored his 11,000th point on the 11th of March. After being away from home at age 16, he feels he is now back home at age 27. That’s 11 years between now and then for Kyrie Irving to return home. Even the letter K, which is the first letter of his name, is the 11th letter of the alphabet.

Many would thing this is beyond coincidence. Maybe this is some kind of voodoo or magic? Maybe Kyrie Irving is an alien and there’s more to this flat earth thing than we gave him credit for. Surely a certain point this has the be the universe at work. Kyrie Irving, being the deep thinker he is (deep thinker is also 11 letters), decided to play off such a significant number in his life by releasing 11 shoes that represent 11 cities on the 11th day of the 11th month.

But why does Kyrie Irving mean by:

You know, 11 is a path of mastery. It’s a master number.

Well, Kyrie Irving is making reference to numerology. Numerology, not to be mistaken with its cousin Astrology, is the study of numbers that occur in ones life. Math and numbers are a universal language. No matter what, math and its laws do not change. Reading and observing the numbers in ones life in numerology is supposed to give you insight. It isn’t that different from how astrology uses the stars and what not to give you a personality type. Numerology uses numbers in much the same fashion.

Hans Decoz of numerology.com says:

Numerology reduces all multi-digit numbers to the single-digit numbers 1 through 9 with the exception of the three Master numbers 11, 22 and 33. These three Master numbers in many cases are not reduced and have a specific set of attributes that sets them apart from all other numbers. Numerology enthusiasts and practitioners have always been especially excited about Master numbers because, as the name implies, they represent something above and beyond the mundane.

As you read, the three master numbers are 11, 22, and 33. If it wasn’t clear with all the things that pointed toward this point, Kyrie Irving is an 11. Michael Jordan also shares this in common with Kyrie Irving, so he is in good company.

Chi-nese.com says this about the number 11 as a path number:

Master number 11 brings higher intuition and spiritual insight, supernatural abilities, increased sensitivity, as well as empathy and natural intelligence. The number eleven is a sign of enormous power – both mental and physical. In addition, this is the first master number from a total of three (11, 22 and 33). This number is the root of all other master numbers.

The holder of this life path number is considered to be an old soul, not only because of their unique abilities, extreme ability to empathize and understand and respect others, but the main reason is very mature thinking. A child with this master number may only be 12 years old, but their way of thinking may be similar to a person who is sixty years old.

The more I read about numerology and the number 11, the more I can’t help, but think that this couldn’t be anyone other than Kyrie Irving. There is even a numerology site where you can check out how numbers relate to your favorite celebrities (see here).

If you still doubt Kyrie and his relation to the number 11, that same celebrity site says this:

All of this amounts to a great capacity for invention. Many inventors, artists, religious leaders, prophets, and leading figures in history have had the 11 prominent in their chart.

Does anything in this snippet look familiar? “Many inventors, artist…”

Did Kevin Durant not call Kyrie Irving an artist the other day? If that doesn’t sell you, then nothing will. I don’t exactly have an degree in witchcraft so I don’t want to speak too much on it, but please feel free to visit the sites I have linked as well as do research of your own. I just thought it would be enjoyable for you to grasp the reasoning behind Kyrie Irving’s shoe roll out decision.

Brooklyn Nets: Kyrie Irving – The Jekyll and Hyde Agenda

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Brooklyn Nets, Kyrie Irving

Brooklyn Nets‘ Kyrie Irving has become a media hot take for the media now more than ever in his NBA career. They say any publicity is good publicity, and if this is the case, then Kyrie Irving is fortunate because the media hasn’t been exactly fond of him as of late.

Recently, Kyrie Irving was the topic of conversation in a piece written by Jackie MacMullan. Jackie MacMullan covers the Boston Celtics. Over the last two or so years, it would be a fair assumption to say she’s seen a lot of Brooklyn’s new star acquisition. She is an extremely credible source. That is obvious. But out of her lengthy piece about the Brooklyn Nets and Kyrie, the excerpt that everyone seems to want to focus on is the “mood swings” aspect of it.

But why? Why focus on that sole part? I doubt that is what Jackie MacMullan wanted when she put this piece out. Well, I believe it is to contain Kyrie Irving in a box. To keep him trapped within the problematic narrative, he’s held ever since he wanted to escape from the shadow that comes with playing with Lebron James. He’s more or less been the problem child ever since, and the media seems to like it this way.

Paul Pierce is another member of the media trying to maintain this Mr. Hyde’s image of Kyrie Irving. Shortly after the Jackie MacMullan piece, the Boston Celtics legend was very critical of Kyrie Irving.

…this is the attitude that tells me you’re a front runner. Because when things are good, you hear him in the media talking about his teammates, hanging out with them, going to dinners. When things are bad and things have not started off pretty good as a team wise in Brooklyn, now all of a sudden these reports are coming back. That just sounds like a front running mentality to me.

Before I respond to this, I would like to point something out. Paul Pierce used to be known for his clutch play on the court. His nickname, “The Truth,” was given to him off such dynamic play. That is no longer the case. Paul Pierce is now known for horrendous sports takes.

Do me a favor and open up Youtube. Type in ‘Paul Pi.’ What do you see? Because when I did it to look for the clip that contained the quote above, the first suggestion was his name, but the second suggestion was ‘paul pierce saying dumb stuff.’ He also has a multitude of completion videos of his bad takes on Youtube. That, along with him being a die-hard Boston Celtics supporter, are clues that his words should be taken with a grain of salt.

But going back to his words, what does the slow start in Brooklyn have to do with something that occurred in the preseason? The alleged “mood swings” happened while the Brooklyn Nets were in China. How can does mood swings be indicative of how Kyrie Irving feels about the slow start in Brooklyn?

And even this “slow start” isn’t all that slow. It is a team that had a pretty substantial roster overhaul. Outside of maybe the Indiana Pacers game, and we were even in that game for much of it, every game has been within reach. Two of them (vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Memphis Grizzlies) came down to one play. The Brooklyn Nets are roughly two plays away from being 5-2.

Another thing Paul Pierce said was, “People see these things, they’re around him every day.” I’m going to put this on the back burner, but keep this in mind.

Around the same time as the Paul Pierce clips, Chris Carter of First Things First gave his own two cents of Kyrie Irving. His addition on the Mr. Hyde narrative was that:

And I know, through talking to NBA teams, that this is the intel they had about Kyrie. Alright, a lot like Allen Iverson. He’s not gonna take care of his body. He’s not gonna spend any extra time as far as getting ready to play that night. He’s going on pure ability. But that will only carry you so long. He doesn’t take care of his body and once his body starts to fail him, what the juice taste like then?

Hot take alert. Kyrie Irving has drawn comparisons to Allen Iverson throughout his career for his ability to handle the rock in ways few can mimic. This is the first time we’ve heard him being compared to Kyrie Irving due to his work ethic. Never before, to my knowledge, has Kyrie Irving ever been seen as a player who doesn’t work hard or take care of his body. Yet we have Chris Carter telling us that NBA teams have told him this is the case with the Brooklyn Nets point guard.

Earlier this week, I wrote a piece showcasing many of the Kyrie Irving defenders of the mood swings (see here). Stephen A. Smith, Kenny Atkinson, DeAndre Jordan, as well as others have come to Kyrie Irving’s defense.

Sarah Kustok of YES Network is now in the same shoes that Jackie MacMullan was in the last few years as far as observing Kyrie Irving. She has front row seats to see the in and outs and up and downs of his NBA life. She appeared on First Things First about a week after Chris Carter spoke those words to shed the aspersions that have been placed on Kyrie Irving. When asked about all the rumors concerning Kyrie Irving and his behavior Sarah Kustok had this to say:

I’m there everyday. I’m there at practice. I sit through the open gyms. You’re there at game, you talk to the teammates. You know the players, many of them who you’ve known for many years. And there’s been no issue. And that’s not to say, we’ve all been through the course of an NBA season. The highs and lows, you’re traveling with people, you’re around people, things come up, and things happen. But to this point and I know that it stemmed from, Jackie MacMullan, who I respect more than anyone on the planet. I don’t think that was the purpose of her article and sometimes we pull one thing out of there and that’s where the mood swings had come up from. I think anytime a guy comes to a new situation and he’s still relatively young in his career, 27. A fresh slate and it’s a different group. And as Nick said it’s a different set of personalities on this Nets group which have embraced Kyrie, Kyrie has embraced them. He has got a high level of compete. He is intense and he brings a whole other level of mentality of trying to win a championship to a group. However, I think that’s something that’s been a positive for this team.

Remember that Paul Pierce quote? People see these things. Are they around him every day? Well, Sarah Kustok echoed that exact sentiment of her own experience with Kyrie Irving as she gave him a glowing review. The same thing goes for all of Kyrie Irving’s teammates as well as his coach, Kenny Atkinson. Kyrie Irving, a human first, has been nothing but Dr. Jekyll this year, and the people around him continue to paint that picture. But for whatever reason, the majority of the media seems as if they want to force him into a Mr. Hyde role. He continues to defy their attempts to box him into their narratives and might be under attack for it.

Brooklyn Nets: Kyrie’s Not Crying…You’re Crying

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Brooklyn Nets, Kyrie Irving

As of November 6th, the Brooklyn Nets are sporting a 3-4 record, good enough for the eighth seed in the NBA Eastern Conference. As the near .500 record might suggest, the early season has been filled with ups and downs. And when this is the case, things that would he mere whispers in winning situations, are booming voices in erratic situations.

Roughly a week or so ago, Jackie MacMullan delivered a piece concerning the Brooklyn Nets. More specifically, Kyrie Irving. It detailed a variety of different aspects. From how Kyrie Irving, DeAndre Jordan, and Kevin Durant all decided they would play together to Kyrie Irving’s relationship with his new teammates. What was the main topic of conversation was the following excerpt from that piece:

Yet Irving’s infamous mood swings, confirmed by his ex-teammates which followed him from Cleveland to Boston to Brooklyn, are the unspoken concern that makes Nets officials quite queasy. When Irving lapses into these funks, he often shuts down, unwilling to communicate with the coaching staff, front office, and sometimes, even his teammates. Nets team sources say one such episode occurred during Brooklyn’s trip to China, leaving everyone scratching their heads as to what precipitated it.

Now, correct me if I’m wrong, this was no ordinary trip to China for NBA teams this Preseason. There was a lot of political weight and discomfort behind it, thanks in no small part to Houston Rockets GM, Daryl Morey. On top of this awkward and stress filled situation, Kyrie Irving had signed with childhood favorite team this offseason. I’m sure that was very emotional for him and probably only starting to truly sink in for him as he prepared to play actual games with teammates.

Perhaps him getting injured early on in the preseason helped contribute to a mix of complex emotions. And even more importantly, the anniversary of his grandfather’s passing was roughly two weeks away. I’m sure he had that on his mind as well. And we all should be well aware of what that caused for Kyrie Irving with the Boston Celtics. Not to say any of this is the case. I don’t want to put my thoughts of what could be the case in the same light as indisputable facts, but to call it a simple mood swing doesn’t seem fair to Kyrie Irving or his emotions. This is the same world that is constantly telling men to be more open with their emotions. With all that said, it was good to see so many people in his corner.

Brooklyn Nets coach, Kenny Atkinson, dispelled the reports adding on that Kyrie Irving has been an A+ as far as spirit. Fellow Brooklyn Net, DeAndre Jordan, went the sarcastic route where he jokingly said negative things about his friend almost as if to figuratively scoff at the report.

Even Stephen A. Smith went to bat for Kyrie Irving.

This guy is not just about basketball. There are other things that are affecting him, that’s clear. But to sit up there and act like that makes him a problem, is something that I have utterly ridiculous. He hasn’t been in Brooklyn for two damn weeks in the regular season. Two damn weeks and we talking about what kind of a problem…people are out there leaking stuff about him as if he’s a problematic dude… Just because folks don’t act the way you want them to act or doesn’t act the way everybody else wants them to act, does not make them a bad person or a problem.

I’m not sure if someone could have articulated any better. Well, outside of the man Kyrie Irving himself. Following the loss to the Indiana Pacers, Kyrie Irving said:

It’s ok to be human. I don’t have to be perfect for anyone here, nor do I have to be perfect for the public. I am not here to dispel any perception, I’m just here to be myself.

I think this shows such growth and acceptance of self with Kyrie Irving. This is a real showcasing of maturity from a man many did not believe was capable of leadership.

Boston’s Past Locker Room Issues Shouldn’t Plague Brooklyn

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Brooklyn Nets, Spencer Dinwiddie

A couple of days ago, Stefan Bondy spoke on former Boston Celtic and newly acquired New York Knick, Marcus Morris, and his thinking on why the locker room dynamics will be the difference in Madison Square Garden vs. TD Garden.

“The teams are different. We don’t have that one guy where it’s like, okay, he’s first,” Morris said. “It’s a team thing. No knock on Ky, but obviously he’s a superstar, he’s first. Sometimes his emotions were put in front of the team. I think here, we’re all transparent with each other. We can all go up to each other and be honest with each other. That’s the biggest thing, when you can go out and speak to your brother.”

Morris feels that there will be no special treatment, and that will create ease in any tension when trouble arises. Players will be acknowledged and more comfortable to call out.

That may have been one of the problems with the Boston Celtics locker room, but I don’t expect that will be the case for Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets.

A big reason for this is the man in question himself, Kyrie Irving. Over the past few months, Irving has acknowledged many things. He admitted he has high expectations, expectations he didn’t exactly live up to last season. He was candid in his assessment of himself as a leader. He told us of his internal struggles with personal issues, while not giving himself an out as an excuse. Kyrie has said a lot of the right things, whether in concerns to himself, the team, or the tensions between the league and China. I don’t believe he’s had a misstep yet. These are all signs of a man who has done soul searching and has grown with the lessons that life has given. Also, he was there in the Boston locker room to see first hand what happened and what part he played in all of it. If anyone can keep history from repeating itself there, it’s him.

The other person that comes to mind in all of this is Coach Kenny Atkinson. Through the years in Brooklyn, Atkinson does not seem like the kind of coach to let players get much if any special treatment. Before Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant blessed the borough of Brooklyn with their presence, we didn’t exactly have an abundance of star/superstar players while in the Kenny Atkinson Era.

Well, that was until last year when D’Angelo Russell fully emerged. But even being a top 3 pick in his draft, D’Angelo Russell should’ve had some pull that most players did not. He was probably the consensus best talent on the team, which is why he’d be a top 3 pick. But all that did not matter to Kenny Atkinson. Russell had to work long and hard for every minute of playing time he was given.

There were a lot of games where Russell watched his team in the fourth quarter. There were a lot of games where D’Angelo was seated next to Kenny as he watched his teammates fight the good fight.

Now I’m not saying D’Lo is a star on the level of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant but based off what we’ve seen from Kenny Atkinson. I can’t see him allowing the locker room to fracture or players to feel alienated because his team feels that he favors a player too much. But we’ll see throughout the season now, won’t we?

New York Knicks: Julius Randle is an absolute stud, goodbye Kristaps Porzingis

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New York Knicks, Julius Randle

The New York Knicks did a fantastic job navigating the second-tier free-agent market after losing out on Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving this past offseason. Bringing in former New Orleans Pelican, Julius Randle has given the team a spark of new life and optimism for success in the future.

Randle not only brings past success but the desire and passion for dragging the Knicks out of the dark ages, leftover from the Kristaps Porzingis era, and his unfortunate need to take his talents elsewhere. Randle, though, seems to be the real deal after only one preseason game with the Knicks — yes, I know, better to be patient and wait for the regular season to make rash comments, but hell, we need a little excitement in our lives as Knicks fans.

This week, Brooklyn Nets star Durant stated that the Knicks weren’t a cool destination:

“I think a lot of fans look at the Knicks as a brand and expect these younger players who, in their lifetime, don’t remember the Knicks being good,” Durant said. “… I’ve seen the Knicks in the Finals, but kids coming up after me didn’t see that. That whole brand of the Knicks to them is not as cool as let’s say the Golden State Warriors or even the Lakers or the Nets now. The cool thing right now is not the Knicks.”

Randle responded to his comment, saying:

“Shit. I feel cool in blue and orange. I don’t know about everybody else, but I feel pretty cool wearing my Knicks gear every day. It’s a dream come true for me.”

Interesting — playing for the New York Knicks is “cool” after all! What’s even cooler is the idea of taking the Knicks to the playoffs and injecting pride into an organization that has lost its way. As fans, nobody should be distraught over the abrupt exit of Kristaps Porzingis. He didn’t want to play in New York under the bright lights, so he was shown the door.

Bringing in Randle might not supplement the loss of Porzingis entirely, but it undoubtedly helps with the culture and atmosphere around the team. Having a quality player that “want” to be there can be the difference between winning and losing.

So here’s a collecting, “goodbye” to Kristaps Porzingis.

New York Knicks: Responding to Kevin Durant’s shot at the Knicks

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Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets

Being cool isn’t usually a value that’s taken into consideration when it comes to success and attracting free agents to a given team. For the New York Knicks, they certainly haven’t been “cool” in quite some time, and Brooklyn Nets star signing Kevin Durant agrees. He also believes that’s a primary reason they cannot attract players to the Garden any longer.

“I think a lot of fans look at the Knicks as a brand and expect these younger players who, in their lifetime, don’t remember the Knicks being good,” Durant said. “… I’ve seen the Knicks in the Finals, but kids coming up after me didn’t see that. That whole brand of the Knicks to them is not as cool as let’s say the Golden State Warriors or even the Lakers or the Nets now. The cool thing right now is not the Knicks.”

Is Kevin Durant right about the New York Knicks?

From a psychological standpoint for younger players, he has a point, but building a team sometimes has to blossom the old fashion way — through consistently reliable draft picks.

The Knicks have failed to draft well for quite some time and are just now piecing together a decent team with a youth core. However, their current players seem to enjoy the idea of playing for the Knicks, as they have the opportunity to develop the organization into a “cool” place to feature.

Both Durant and Kyrie Irving were rumored to the Knicks this past offseason, and the whispers proved to be false. With the superstar duo heading to Brooklyn, the Knicks dove into the second-tier free agent pool, coming away with Julius Randle, Marcus Morris, Wayne Ellington, Taj Gibson, Bobby Portis, and Reggie Bullock.

There’s no question they have built a strong foundation of veterans, but the focus remains on their younger players — Kevin Knox, RJ Barrett, Mitchell Robinson, etc. The veterans are built around team-friendly contracts that allow them to move on after one/two seasons and pursue more prominent players during the 2020 offseason. In other terms, they’re using the veterans to catapult the team into a position of quality and leverage that will hopefully attract bigger names. Maybe then, the team will be considered “cool.”

Is the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets rivalry now bigger than ever?

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New York Knicks

This summer, the Brooklyn Nets were able to get the 2 superstar free-agents that the New York Knicks coveted.  Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving decided to sign with the Nets over the Knicks.  Knicks fans were too confident that they would land at least one, if not both.  But, that was not god’s plan.

Now that those two are in Brooklyn instead of New York, does this intensify the rivalry?  Is the Knicks-Nets rivalry bigger than ever now?

Well, it should be.  But, it isn’t.

Some fans of both teams will saw say there is always a rivalry and rightfully so.  The ‘Battle of Borough’ does mean a lot to basketball fans in New York.  It is a sibling rivalry.  It is fun and there is something extra to play when these two teams meet, regardless of their records.

However, the rivalry does not mean as much unless both teams are good and/or contenders.  This season, and for the duration of the Durant/Irving tenure, the rivalry does not carry as much weight unless the Knicks are good.

Regardless of what player went where, the Nets made the playoffs last year and were the better New York team.  The Knicks had the league’s worst record, enough said.  Therefore, the rivalry meant nothing, well to Spencer Dinwiddie it allegedly meant everything.

If the Knicks are able to become something like what the Nets currently are, then it will grow.  The Knicks will have to be contenders.  It might not be next season, but they are on the right path to make that happen.  Or, if the Knicks are able to get a big name free-agent next season, or trade for one, then the rivalry will be huge.  As long as whatever they do turns them into competitors.

There was no competition last season, or the year before.  The Nets were clearly the better team, so the rivalry was swept underneath the rug.  Even when Durant comes back from his Achilles injury, the rivalry will not mean much unless the Knicks are competitive.

If both teams are in contention for the playoffs, especially being in the same division, the rivalry intensifies.  The Knicks already have the ‘dog’ mentality ready to shock people with their play this season.  Will that play be good enough to propel this rivalry into a another stratosphere?  Or will the Knicks let the Nets try to take control of the city.

How the New York Knicks are successfully carrying out Plan B

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New York Knicks, RJ Barrett

Heading into the offseason the New York Knicks had both Plan A and Plan B on blueprints. Initially, they were confident they would have a shot at landing a superstar player and even planned to go all-in on Kevin Durant before his Achilles injury.

The Knicks took a step back after finding out how severe the ailment was, and they looked towards other superstars to potentially fill the void. Plan A was to bring in at least one max-contract player that could elevate the franchise and rise it from the ashes of solidarity and darkness. However, that optimistic future came crashing to a halt after every remaining superstar signed with more competitive teams.

The Knicks had to resort to the god-forsaken Plan B, which has developed into a solid blueprint. Signing veterans like Julius Randle and Marcus Morris, two players than can provide value but won’t change the course of the franchise, began the process.

The Knicks secured veterans on deals with options after the 2019-20 season which will allow them to clear cap-space and pursue a top free agent like Anthony Davis.

The reality is simple; the Knicks realized their team wasn’t far along enough to appeal to the cream of the crop in the NBA, but helping their youth players develop is the key to success. Barrett, the Knicks 3rd overall pick in the most recent NBA draft, will be a significant factor in luring players to The Garden next season. His abilities and efficiency in college make him a potential All-Star-caliber player.

While he has plenty to work on, this upcoming season will allow him to gain essential playing time and experience. A season of development can be hugely influential and could see him grow into one of the team’s top players. His impact alone could be the force that brings top players to New York City. One thing is for sure. The Knicks cannot allow the Nets to claim “big brother” status, especially with the support and resources available to them.

 

 

 

Will the Brooklyn Nets rotate at the point guard position?

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Spencer Dinwiddie, Brooklyn Nets

The Brooklyn Nets have had various players at point guard over the years. It’s a position that generally has good depth in Brooklyn. I mean it makes sense. It’s arguably the most critical position on the court.

The point guard is the first line of defense. He directs the offense and sets the tempo of the game. He’s supposed to be an extension of the coach since the coach can’t be on the court directing things at all times.

This year is a little different for the Brooklyn Nets. There are only two players on the roster that naturally play the position — newly acquired member of the Nets Kyrie Irving and the man who recruited him, Spencer Dinwiddie. You could push the number to three with the addition of Jaylen Hands, but the rookie out of UCLA will probably spend his rookie year developing in Long Island.

So that leaves the question, what happens when one of the two main guys are in foul trouble? Or if both get into foul trouble? What happens during a load management day? Kyrie hasn’t exactly been the most healthy pg in the league, what happens if he has to miss games for an extended period?

These questions gave room for people to speculate specific point guards as viable options earlier on in the offseason. But with the Nets having 15 guaranteed contracts and the roster is more or less set in stone at this point, it’s clear Sean Marks believes the answer to these questions and the depth at point guard are on the roster.

The first person that comes to mind is Caris Levert. The young player has a diverse skill set. He can handle the rock and create for himself. His ability to break down a defender and penetrate, allow him to find the open man when the defense collapses. Levert has played some point guard during his tenure with the Nets, and the organization has liked what they’ve seen. Don’t be shocked to see Levert play someone for short stints this season.

The veteran Garrett Temple is another option at the point guard. Although seldom, he too has experienced at the point throughout his NBA career. Temple, like Caris, would give the Nets a more significant body to throw at opposing PGs, causing lots of matchup problems. And as a veteran, you don’t have to worry about him being overwhelmed with the responsibility of running a team or having someone take him out of his game. He’s seen a lot over the years so he can be a steady hand if need be.

Dzanan Musa is another option that Kenny Atkinson will probably look at to be a primary ball-handler and run the offense. Musa is a player the Brooklyn brass is very high on. They believe the young European player is oozing with potential and that he can be a very versatile piece to the roster. Through his young career in the NBA and before it, he hasn’t shown a knack for creating for others, but he does have a decent handle. He’d be an extremely tall PG for us, listed at 6’9″. During the Summer League, we saw him run the offense a little bit, and as he continues to learn the game, he should get better on that end. He’s probably the least likely option, but I expect to see him tested here during practices or possibly during garbage time.

Finally, the heart and soul of our bench mob, Theo Pinson might have his hand tried at being the floor general. Management might’ve spoken to him about him playing some point because Pinson seems to have his mind wrapped around the idea already. He opened up to Brian Lewis about it saying that he wants to, of course, do his job, but do it while taking care of the ball. He even mentioned playing the point guard position reporting:

I have the ball in my hands [as] the third point guard, knock down open shots — I think that’s the biggest thing for me. We’ve got a lot of guys who can create on our team, so being able to knock down shots and be respectable will just open up the floor for them.

So the Nets may not have that traditional third point guard to go to this season, but they have multiple viable options to hold down the fort if the need arises.

New York Nets: Can Kyrie Irving be a Successful Leader?

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Brooklyn Nets, Boston Celtics, Kyrie Irving

This offseason left many questions for the Brooklyn Nets and NBA analysts alike. A plethora of these questions floated around Kyrie Irving. Can he be a leader? Was he the problem in Boston? How will he fare in his new situation? I’m sure there are plenty more, but they all follow this train of thought more or less. Does Kyrie have what it takes to lead? Well, Brian Lewis of the NY Post seems to think he is taking steps in the right direction.

Over the course of the last few weeks, various players of the Brooklyn Nets roster have met up in Cali to get to working together. How this pertains to Irving? He apparently was one of the main players who orchestrated this. Lewis writes:

It’s noteworthy that it was newcomer Kyrie Irving — whose leadership skills were questioned when he played in Boston — who led the way.

“It was basically player-driven,” Theo Pinson told The Post at a Nets youth camp at Hellenic Classical Charter School in Park Slope. “Kyrie was out there, and we wanted to get with him, so we just all went out there and just worked out together.”

What’s also noteworthy is what the sophomore Theo Pinson said. Yes, it being player-driven is huge. Great to see the players take responsibility and accountability of getting better and meshing on their own. Those are good signs from a team that understand what the borough of Brooklyn expects from them. They can’t sleep on the laurels of last season’s Cinderella run into the postseason or the still unreal feeling of signing two of the best players at their position in Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant.

But the other part which is easing on the nerves is that Pinson said that the Brooklyn Nets players WANTED to be out there with Irving. They wanted to get out there and build a bond and chemistry with their new starting PG. That’s great to hear after all the news and reports of players having a hard time playing with Irving. Those reports and thoughts seem to be more overblown as the days go by. Much of the Boston organization have spoken out on Irving’s behalf at this point, so a lot of the thoughts on him seem to be coming up baseless. And it’s not just the meshing on the court that is occurring. Pinson (courtesy of Lewis) speaks of 2k tournaments had by the Nets players. This is great bonding that goes beyond the Xs and Os of on-court play.

But my next question is, why is this news? I’m sure plenty of players across the league do similar things, so why is it such a big deal with Kyrie Irving? Well obviously because of all the drama attached to his name across the course of the last few years, but even then, this isn’t new. I wrote an article for Nothinbutnets.com (click here to read) where I detailed why I thought Irving would prove doubters wrong. In it, I brought up a Jackie McMullen piece in which she speaks on Irving trying to put up extra shots and get extra practice in the middle of a back to back on the road. His teammates instead went to the club to party, which truly bothered him. The team would go on the get blown out the next night. Irving does the same thing in both these situations. The big difference? His teammates. His teammates in Brooklyn seem to be more mature (even the younger ones) and more grounded. Unlike the Celtic team that left Irving to shoot alone, Brooklyn’s players followed his lead and decided to get a head start on building chemistry, weeks before a legitimate practice can be had. Irving also inviting a talented player such as Carmelo Anthony to practice with them gives Nets players increased competition and a potential short term mentor. Long story short, it seems like Kyrie is on the right path to proving he can be a capable leader.