After losing to the Heat in the last game, the Nets have suffered an 11-game losing streak. The team's record has slipped all the way to 29 wins and 27 losses, although it is still in the top eight in the East, but it is obviously far from the expectations of fans. This wave of losing streaks has pushed many people to the outlet of public opinion, head coach Nash has been accused of poor ability, Harden who has been traded off the team has been ridiculed for his inability to do so, and the most fiercely criticized on the cusp of the storm is Irving.
Due to the delay in vaccination, Irving has played only 14 games for the team this season, averaging 24.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game, shooting 45.2% from the field and 36.8% from three-point range. While the personal data looks good, the team has only achieved a bad record of 4 wins and 10 losses during this period, especially when Durant and Harden are both absent, and he has not led the team to taste a single victory. Many believe that Irving's eccentric behavior is inextricably linked to Harden's departure.
For the Nets, worse things are yet to come. In the Nets' next 26 games, the Nets played at home barclays Center, meaning he had only nine games to play. Although the team got Simmons, Drummond and Curry Jr. in the Harden trade, the other two, except for Curry Jr., are not very good at attacking. If Durant makes a hasty comeback, it is bound to increase the risk of injury.
In response to the criticism of the outside world, Owen said in an interview with the media: "Someone told me that it was very simple, 'go to the vaccine is not going to get it', but it is not simple for me..." Obviously, Owen still insists on his decision and does not want to be vaccinated. His persistence has also won a lot of support from the outside world, including his life coach Coach K and teammate Durant.
Next month, Coach K will lead the Duke Blue Devils to a game at the Barclays Center, where he spoke about his proud disciple in an interview with the media. "I love Kyrie, I think he should stick to what's right, figure out what his decisions will have on the team and then make the decisions you think are right, everything is a matter of course and I'll always support him."
In the American basketball circle, coach K is very famous, he is not only the coach of Duke University, but also the head coach of the former American men's basketball team. In 2010, Irving joined Duke University, coached by coach K, where he spent a brief one-season before landing in the NBA as a champion. There is a deep friendship between the two, in a sense, the old K coach is not only Irving's head coach, but also a life mentor, family.
The outside world put the responsibility for the loss on Irving's shoulders, and Durant did not agree. In an interview with the media, he said: "I can't speculate, I don't know. It is obvious that there will be rumors about this. Irving has always been a scapegoat for everyone, especially for the media and fans. ”
So the question is, as a fan, what do you think of Irving's decision not to get vaccinated? Is he responsible for the Nets' current plight?