What are the criteria for nuclear superstars? James, 33, averaged 34.0 points, 9.1 rebounds and 9.0 assists per game in the playoffs, almost single-handedly brought the Cavaliers to the Finals, and in 22 playoff games that year, he didn't play out of the game. As the closest man in the league to James, Durant finally ushered in his 33-year-old playoffs this year, but his first 24-of-9 performance was doubly disappointing, and the Nets even faced a crisis of first-round exit!
As early as the summer of 2019, when Durant and Irving joined the Nets, people were full of expectations for a healthy Nets team, not to mention three consecutive championships, and it did not seem to be difficult to win a championship. With the subsequent trade with Harden, it makes people feel that the championship is already in the bag for them. But things took a turn this season, Harden after playing 44 games for the Nets, due to dissatisfaction with Irving's part-time playing practices, applied for a trade to leave the team, Durant chose to side with Irving, for Harden's departure, did not do too much retention.
One main player played one game after another, one main force was injured, and after the beard left, the Nets' record plummeted, and finally relied on the playoffs to barely reach the playoffs with a seventh-place finish. Looking at Harden today, who has teamed up with Embiid to lead Philadelphia to a 2-0 lead, with the current state of their team, even if they win the championship, it will not surprise too many people.
On the other hand, the Nets seem to have always been on the cusp of the storm, no matter how outrageous Irving does, Durant is supporting him for no reason, and this combination is really unpredictable.
Although Irving and Durant have both won championships, they should probably also know that they both need to take another championship to prove themselves: Durant can win the championship without relying on the Golden State Warriors, and Irving can win the championship without James. However, from the current situation, the opportunity is not much, and the Celtics, Bucks and Philadelphia are far better than them. This year, it's their third season with the Nets and their second season playing together.
Perhaps, Durant's choice to join forces with Irving at the beginning was a mistake, and then it was a mistake for Harden to give up the team's interior line, and then it was a mistake to have no intention of keeping Harden and letting him trade, and this series of choices has created the current situation.