January 6, January 10, two days that could buzz the heads of the League's powers.
The Nets, who are second in the East, will welcome Irving's comeback.
The Warriors, who are no. 1 in the West, are expected to see Klay Thompson on the bench.
An undifferentiated singles prince, a historic shooter, which also makes other teams can't play, or the Nets Warriors directly play the Finals?
Things, I'm afraid, are not so simple.
Irving has not played a game this season, which is his active choice, the consequences of not vaccinating. Irving has been practicing on his own during the absence, his personality is different, but the business ability is absolutely no problem, the foot injury suffered in the playoffs last season has long been good, physically very healthy, what is needed is to find the rhythm of the game through actual combat, after all, training and playing are still two different things.
However, considering Irving's style without version restrictions, as well as the basic cooperation routine cultivated with Durant and Harden last season, his integration cost will be relatively low, and Irving, who plays seriously, is still very "god".
Thompson last played on June 14, 2019, and his absence was completely passive, injuring his knee first and then his Achilles tendon. Thompson, at the moment when the front cruciate ligament in his left knee tore, told Cole that he would come back and play after a break, which was two and a half years.
Tang Shen and Ou Shen, one bitter extravagant, one squandering time, are inevitably sighing.
Thompson's two injuries, each need a year to recover, the Warriors gave enough patience, extended the total recovery time to two and a half years, initially envisioned to return around the end of the year, but postponed until January, hoping to make Thompson fully prepared.
Thompson first went to recovery training on his own, then went to develop the league to polish for a while, and then returned to the Warriors to participate in confrontation practice, from the procedural point of view, the interlocking meticulous, has done what conditions allow.
The Warriors can wait, but the Nets can't wait. The Nets originally did not accept Irving's "part-time job", and now they are unable to insist, especially this wave of three consecutive losses, which has become a trend of "team danger, Wen Ge returns quickly".
Although the Nets are in second place in the East, their overall record against the top four in the East and West this season is 0-7. The fundamental problem of the Nets is that the lineup is awkward, the lack of a strong basket is an inherent defect, the way to make up is to strengthen the outside defense, while paying attention to the contraction of the defense line, but the Nets defensive ability is relatively strong players, shooting is not good, strengthening the defense will affect the offensive space, releasing space will delay the defense.
The two sets of offensive and defensive lineups are intertwined, and nash's tactical support cannot be said to be no, but it is also limited, which causes the Nets to abuse the dish is acceptable, and it is not possible to play high-end games.
The main reason for this situation is Irving, the Nets in the offseason originally played according to the big three to match the lineup, they played a historic offensive efficiency last season, in the eyes of management and coaching staff, the offense is strong enough, if the defense is improved, it is not beautiful. As a result, the Nets brought in a group of defensive players, but found that Irving was struggling with the vaccine, preferring to give up the home game and the corresponding salary.
Therefore, the Nets must get Irving back, even if they can only play the away games allowed by the epidemic prevention policy. With Irving there, the Nets can put aside defensive problems and fight with all their might, I can't defend you, you can't defend me, self-inflicted eight hundred, but can hurt the enemy a thousand.
Basketball games, at the end of the day, don't they just mean who scores more?
The Warriors don't have the Urgency of the Nets, Curry has a lot of new all-time moments this season, but his 42.7% shooting percentage is only higher in the NBA career than the 2019-20 season, which only played 5 games due to injuries and other reasons. Curry's shooting efficiency is lower than expected, but the Warriors league is first, which has the factor of Curry's scoring explosiveness, his highlight games are not many, and another key factor is the assistance of the "supporting characters".
"Chasing Dreams" attacked and dealt cards, defending half-court, Wiggins threw the highest offensive efficiency of his career, while shouldering the heavy responsibility of staring at the opposing arrow figure, Poole developed a ball-holding attack, Peyton Jr. provided a tear-off defense, and Porter offered a value-added offensive and defensive balance.
All in all, this season's Warriors, front and backcourt, have better physical talent and offensive and defensive comprehensive output, giving the league's fourth offensive efficiency and the first defensive efficiency. The difference between the Warriors and the Nets is that when their offense is unstable, they can make up for it through defense, and the Nets are not very good at this aspect.
The Warriors don't need Thompson to give in the regular season, and Kerr said that Tang Shen's comeback debut will play 15 to 20 minutes, back-to-back rotation, and then slowly increase according to the situation. The Nets with Irving is not estimated to be so thrifty, with Nash seeing the main force on the two-eyed employment standard, as long as the game does not spend, Irving's comeback can be expected for more than thirty minutes.
The Warriors can let Thompson adapt slowly, which does not mean that their need for Tang Shen is low. There is no equal sign between the regular season excellence and the playoffs, the regular season focuses on team strength, the playoffs focus on superstar play, the team decides the lower limit, the superstar determines the upper limit, and where the Warriors' ceiling this season is, it is up to Thompson to decide.
The NBA officially set the game within 5 points of the last 5 minutes of the game as a key moment, curry shot 34% in key moments this season and 26% from three-point range. It's not that Curry is incompetent, but in a decisive moment, the opponent will disregard the Warriors' team strength and fully pounce on Curry, obviously Wiggins, Poole, in the key ball stage, the diversion of defense will be downshifted, the regular season is so, and it is even more so in the playoffs.
If, at a critical moment, it is Thompson who is standing next to Curry, does the opponent dare to surround Curry?
On the cold-blooded level in the game, "G6 Soup" can make the opponent's heart pluck cold.
Of course, the premise is that Thompson can get close to his pre-injury level.
Two consecutive major injuries, Thompson's athletic ability is not damaged at all, I am afraid it is a unrealistic medical miracle, his projection is already a muscle memory, the rhythm can be recovered with the game, but the mobility, explosiveness, agility and endurance are all marked with question marks. Durant can return after an Achilles tendon injury, but Thompson injured not only the Achilles tendon, but also the knee.
Relative to the offense, Thompson may degenerate more defensively, and the best 3D was his mark, if only "3" is left, losing "D", how the Warriors use it at key moments will have to test Kerr's platoon deployment.
You know, really to the stage of fighting bayonets, the opponent will definitely target the Warriors' defensive weaknesses, and Thompson was once a defensive strong point, and it is difficult to say after the comeback.
Cole has already said that Thompson will play the start on his return, which means That Poole will play the sixth man. If Thompson recovers well, Poole can't say anything, but if it's not good, Poole will not complain, after all, his contract next season is a team option, and he is still waiting to sign a fat contract.
If all goes well, Irving should have no competitive status problems, he can play away from home, and it is also a relief for the Nets, who have played 13 away games in 18 games since Jan. 11, including a four-game streak, a five-game streak, and a direct away on Jan. 30 with the Warriors.
However, Irving does not play vaccines, you can only play away, this "part-time" state, will make the Nets rotation lineup lack of stability, home a set, an away set, Mills to sometimes start and sometimes substitute, the away game is really strong Irving, home is not good is the lack of Irving can't do it, right?
What will the teammates think, what is the atmosphere in the dressing room? Even if you don't consider the psychological level, when it comes to the playoffs, is it not playing at home and away, is this a professional game, or is it a family of children?
The comebacks of Irving and Thompson bring hope, but there are also questions that come with what the future holds, leaving it to the game to give answers.
However, after so many twists and turns, it is good to come back.