When the Nets finally entered the playoffs in seventh place in the East, when their opponents determined to be the Celtics, one of the strongest teams in the second half of the season, many people had already guessed that the Nets would probably not pass the first round, but I believe that not many people would expect that the Nets would end the season in a sweep.
Unlike last season, when they fell on Irving's feet, Harden's hamstring strain and Durant's shoe was a yard bigger, they were confident enough that they could make a comeback. But this time, they lost in disgrace, the course of the season is a chicken feather, I am afraid that even they themselves, may not dare to believe that next season can come again.
So what did the Nets do wrong to make themselves from the biggest favorite to win the championship at the beginning of the season to the situation of being swept in the first round and being ridiculed by the outside world? Leaving aside the well-known reasons why Irving didn't get vaccinated and Harden's disappointment leaving, the team's three major flaws are too fatal.
The forward reserves are too weak
The reason why the Nets were pinched by the Celtics was largely because they were completely suppressed by the opponent in terms of size, and their small lineup was too small, which led to their complete inability to defend the opponent on the defensive end, except for Durant, no one could go to Tatum and Brown, and on the offensive end, once the feel was not opened, it was completely cool.
Irving, Curry, Mills, Dragic, the Nets have a wealth of guards, but there is only one Durant on the front, and Bruce Brown, although nominally a front, is only 1.93 meters tall, and the body disadvantage is too large, and there is no choice in the face of the Celtics' tall lineup.
The team originally had Johnson and Bemburi two forwards who combined size and defensive ability, but both were abandoned by the team in the middle of the season because of their average offensive role. Now it seems that it is a failure.
Inside players are heavily biased
The Nets are also not short of interior lines, and after trading with Drummond, the Nets have four interior lines, Johnson, Clarkston, Aldridge and Griffin, and three of them are former All-Stars, which is too enviable at first glance.
However, all four of them are serious players. Zhuang Shen can protect rebounds and cover, but he does not have the ability to shoot and go down after blocking, and his basketball IQ is also worrying.
Clarkston can adapt to unlimited changes of defense, excellent basket protection, and good at eating cakes, but there is no independent offensive ability, and the free throws are a mess.
Aldridge's shots are still sharp and provide some rebounding protection and rim, but the old legs often allow him to be targeted by opposing defenders on the defensive end.
Griffin can do anything, but after losing his athletic ability, his play is difficult to stabilize, and he is limited by the arm span, and the ability to protect the frame is not good.
So, the end result is that they are not as reused as Jeff Green last season, especially Ard did not catch a second of playing time.
Incorrect use of Durant
After Harden was traded out of the team, Durant became the de facto organizer of the team, playing the role of the big core of the ball.
Durant has proven more than once that he can play the big core of the ball, and after taking this role, his assist statistics have also increased significantly. But after all, he can't reach the same realm as James and Harden, but because of playing this role, he weakens the absolute singles ability that he relies on to survive.
It's not that the team has no one to play as a point guard, even if Irving is not a good fit, at least later the experienced Dragic was brought in, but he didn't get much of the ball, most of the time, the ball is concentrated in Durant's hands, and Dragic's role is more like a fixed-point pitcher.
If the responsibility of the organization is given to Irving and Dragic and Mills, so that Durant can go to a more comfortable position to receive the ball, whether he can win a few games is afraid to say, at least Durant will not be so serious as pulling crotch.
Even if he plays the big core of the ball, he also needs to play the inside line in the team's 5 small lineups to act as a frame protector. Although Durant's single defense and co-defense ability are good enough, height and arm span can completely protect the frame, but can not stand the front 4 are defensive loopholes, by the opponent in turn to impact ah.
In the process of filling loopholes back and forth, Durant's physical strength was exhausted, and those familiar with him knew that physical fitness had never been his strong point.
All in all, the Nets' season is over, leaving only a sigh. All three of these flaws are fatal, and if you still want to compete for the championship next season, the offseason is really busy.
The most injured is not Durant, after all, he still has a future to look forward to, but the 37-year-old Aldridge, as a former All-Star big forward, he retired early last season due to heart disease, this season for the championship dream to choose to comeback, looking forward to the Nets with the Dream of last season, did not think, but in the last year of his career caught up with this pile of dog blood incident, and finally did not even get a decent closing opportunity, it is really regrettable.