In the most recent game, the Lone Ranger made up his mind at the last minute of the game, eliminating the Jazz 4-2 and advancing to the Western Conference Semifinals. For the 23-year-old, Doncic is a major breakthrough in his career and makes the future of this talented European player even more exciting. In addition to Doncic, several other players on the Lone Rangers team also played well. Brunson and Dinwiddie, for example, are the two main scorers in addition to Doncic.
In particular, in the few games in which Doncic was absent due to injury, he took on the responsibility of scoring the team. Although he was only in the second round and made an annual salary of only $1.8 million, he was able to carry the team at a critical moment and became a player that the team had to stay in the summer. The second is Dinwiddie, also in the second round, but he has already proven himself on the Nets. Previously, when he played for the Nets, he led the team to the playoffs with Russell and LeVert, proving his strength.
Last year, the Nets management sent Dinwiddie away in the trade, and perhaps the Nets management saw Irving's return and felt that Dinwiddie was more redundant. But in a game like the playoffs, the team has one more strong scoring point, and the team has greater hope. After watching the Nets' first-round playoff performances, it really feels like they've missed too many opportunities. The first is Dinwiddie, the team can actually consider staying. Even if he continues to be the 6th man on the team, it will enhance the depth of the team's squad.
By the playoffs, Dinwiddie was able to help Durant share more of the ball and give the team one more offensive scoring point. More importantly, Dinwiddie was able to lead the second team to the top for a while, and was able to buy Durant more rest time. Part of the reason why the Nets were swept by the Celtics in the first round was that the team lacked a third person to attack with the ball, and Dinwiddie was actually a good choice. Including when the game is scorching, Dinwiddie can also create damage through breakthroughs. That way, the Nets' offensive approach wouldn't be so monolithic, and the Celtics would have a harder time defending.
Of course, the Nets' problems are far worse than they think. Among them, the management has to bear the main responsibility, especially last year did not sign Tucker, and then casually handled Dinwiddie, plus green did not stay in the summer, making the team flanks even thinner. Among the many options, the Nets chose a group of shooting guards with more general defense. Maybe it was also Nash's suggestion, after all, Nash is a defender and prefers to use defender players. But the current NBA is the domain of frontline players, and the team is too focused on the guard and it is difficult to help the players go too far.
Even after the season is over, the Nets' future is still unclear. Although Irving made it clear that he wanted to stay with Durant, he also made it clear that he wanted a 5-year long contract. But given the constant flow of things off the pitch, it blurs the team's attitude a lot. The second is simmons' whereabouts, which is also a problem that the Nets urgently need to solve. As a player, Simmons can also play an All-Star level. But he is now playing a problem, and the team also needs to make decisions based on the actual situation.
There is also the issue of team reinforcements, after this defeat, the team needs to strengthen the introduction of wing players, while paying more attention to the mobility of the team's interior line and defense. This will make Durant play more comfortably and allow the Nets to have their own system. If Durant and Irving are still singles, the Nets are still not far away next season. Although the Nets are not short of money, but every year a large hand but no record every year, if you still can't prove yourself, the day of the fall apart may come sooner, just like the "Nets Five Tigers" in the past!