Nets, Durant and why the Knicks are no longer a good fit
The Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks sum up another chapter of their rivalry on Sunday, after Steve Nash’s team rallied from a 28-point deficit in their last meeting in mid-February.
The Nets are on a five-game winning streak over the Knicks, their longest streak since 2010-12. When they meet on Sunday, they will do so without star point guard Kyrie Irving, who, due to his unvaccinated status against Covid-19, remains ineligible to play at Barclays Center, home of the Nets. They will also be without Ben Simmons, who has yet to make his debut.
But there will be Kevin Durant – who returned from injury as if nothing had happened – to remind us why every time we talk about the best basketball player in the world, his name should be there. Likewise, new acquisitions Seth Curry and Andre Drummond, among others.
What can we expect from this game between one of the favorites to be crowned Eastern Conference champions (despite their eighth place finish) and a Knicks team that, if the season ended today, would be out of the playoffs and playoffs?
Knicks current events
The Knicks, coached by Tom Thibodeau, have been one of the biggest disappointments of this tournament. The reasons? First, because they got worse compared to the previous season. In 2020-21, they finished in fourth place and made it to the postseason. This year, they have a 28-39 record and are in twelfth place.
Second, because they invested $78 million over four years in shooting guard Evan Fournier, who only scored 14.2 goals per game. They also invested poorly in point guard Kemba Walter, who was signed for two tournaments, and with whom they reached an agreement to keep him away from the team.
However, prior to Saturday’s loss to the now-popular Memphis Grizzlies of Ja Morant and company, the Knicks had won three games in a row with a 69-point differential – the highest in a similar span since 2012.
The reality is different, though. The Knicks are the worst team in the league in assists (21.4), scoring in the paint (41.5) and second-to-last in field goal percentage (49.7%). They are four and a half games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the last ticket to the playoffs. Important players in the last tournament, such as Derrick Rose, have not been able to have continuity due to injuries.
The best news for the Knicks is the great level shown by Canadian forward RJ Barrett, who has eight games with at least 30 units, more than any other NBA player 21 years old or younger.
Power forward Julius Randle, despite heading for a second consecutive season with 20 points, 10 rebounds and five assists per game, has been lacking in key situations and was expected to make a leap in quality that he has not delivered.
The worst news for Sunday? Kevin Durant. Why? Let’s get to it.
KD, the Knicks’ kryptonite.
When Durant became a free agent a couple of years ago, the odds favored his arrival in New York. What no one imagined was that both he and Irving would choose the other team in town.
He averaged 28.3 points per game in his career against the Knicks. To give you an idea, only Wilt Chamberlain (33.7) and Michael Jordan (31.6) averaged more.
Meanwhile, of his 29 points per game this season, 7.8 have come from mid-range, second most in the NBA behind DeMar DeRozan of the Chicago Bulls. Durant punishes you from all over the court.
The Nets, who between the poor form of their now-former James Harden, as well as Durant’s injuries and Irving’s unvaccinated status, have used 37 different lineups in 2021-22.
No one doubts that the best fans in NY, and arguably in basketball, are at Madison Square Garden. But, about five miles from the Garden, at Barclays, plays the best lineup in town.
“I never wanted to be the ‘savior’ of the Knicks or NY,” Durant said a few months ago on The Old Man and the Three podcast. “I didn’t care about being the ‘king’ of NY. That never moved me. I didn’t care about being on Broadway. I just wanted to play basketball and relax. And that’s what Brooklyn promotes.”
Either the Knicks do something with Durant or the Nets superstar will get bored of ‘relaxing’ too much in front of them. The famous phrase in soccer derbies of “worthy opponent wanted” comes to mind. Will the Knickerbockers finally show their pride? We’ll see on Sunday.
