Why the Brooklyn Nets won't win the Finals this season

Date: January 21, 2021

By: Ryan Johnston 

Fadeaway World

Last Wednesday, the Brooklyn Nets had the entire NBA in a frenzy. In a four-team trade with the Rockets, Cavaliers, and Pacers, the Nets acquired James Harden. The 2017-18 NBA MVP has finally forced his way out of Houston and has shaken up the whole league in doing so. He is joining Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to form the NBA’s next big-three tandem, giving himself a real shot at the NBA Championship he so desires.

 

Even the bookies got in on the action; Brooklyn’s championship odds improved from +550 to +270 just at the news that Harden was coming. But hold your horses Nets fans and bettors alike. Brooklyn won’t be lifting the Larry O’Brien trophy, at least not this year. Here’s why. 

 

For one, the tandem is just too much of the same. Durant, Irving, and Harden are all used to being the ball-dominant first scoring options for their respective teams. None of them are post players. Harden led the Rockets in scoring ever since he joined them and has led the league in scoring for the past two years. Durant is widely regarded as one of the greatest scorers of all time, and Irving has solidified himself as a prolific scorer over the past few years.

El Fildeo 

This means that they are much more one-dimensional than the big threes of years past. They are all high-volume shooters, especially Harden, meaning that it could be more difficult for them to mesh than Big threes of past. All of them have been shown to have egos in the past. Kyrie Irving has had numerous headlines regarding his disagreements with teammates after forcing his way out of Cleveland and Boston. Kevin Durant has gotten into numerous disputes over Twitter with fans, and Harden has just forced his way out of Houston. 

 

With this combination of playstyles and histories between the players, it is difficult to see who on the team will give up their normal number of shots. While the Nets have played very well in Harden’s first two games in the black and white, Kyrie Irving has sat out for both of those two games. Harden and Durant have combined for around half of the team’s total field goals attempted in both of those games. When Irving comes back, it could take a while before they find their flow with three players that are so ball dominant. Who is going to be the Chris Bosh out of this big three? Who is going to sacrifice his shots and do the little things for the team? Right now, it’s hard to tell.

NBAE/Getty Images 

Also, they gave up a huge amount of their depth in the trade. Caris Levert, Jarrett Allen, and Taurean Prince were all huge bench pieces for the Nets; Levert is averaging 18 points and six assists on the season. Allen is a major paint presence, providing double digit rebounds and well over a block, and Taurean Prince is a consistent player, doing the dirty work needed. If Irving or Durant, who both have a rocky history with injuries, are out for extended periods of time, especially in the playoffs, the Nets could have a hard time filling the empty space left by them.

 

Yes, Irving is currently out, and the Nets have done well with James Harden in their first two games. However, Joe Harris and Jeff Green are not going to be putting up the same numbers that they have in the last two games for the whole season. 

 

Finally, the Nets don’t have precedent on their side. The last big three to form in this way with three players coming together all from separate teams was the Cleveland Cavaliers with Lebron James, Irving, and Kevin Love. They didn’t win a championship in their first year together. Before that, it was the Miami Heat with James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh. They also were unable to lift the Larry O’Brien trophy in their first year. It normally takes these super teams a little while to get their chemistry together, and Brooklyn, as talented as the team is, is no exception to that. 

USATSI 

Other contenders for the title already have had their core in place for at least a season. The Lakers have Lebron James and Anthony Davis; the Clippers have Kawhi Leonard and Paul George; the Bucks have Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton. All of these players have been paired together for some time, and because of that, they will have a significant in the playoffs.

 

All in all, this is not meant to disparage the Brooklyn Nets or their trade for Harden. They are now the most talented team in the NBA and bound to win a championship at one point or another. However, the 2021 NBA Playoffs start in May, giving this team just four short months to perfect its chemistry. That’s too little time. I’m sorry Nets fans, but the Brooklyn Nets will not win the NBA Championship, at least not this year.

Ryan Johnston can be reached at ryan.johnston@student.shu.edu.

Posted in: Sports