Kyrie Irving Is the Key to the NBA Season: Unchecked

If he is on the court with Kevin Durant and James Harden, the Nets are unbeatable.

If the Brooklyn guard is on the court, the Nets are unbeatable.

Nets Big 3 just vibing after the blowout win 🙌 pic.twitter.com/76Asd6B8GQ

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 13, 2022

Of course there are two parts to making a statement like this. The first has to do with talent since as James Harden said, they are that good. I didn’t need to see them blow out the Bulls to come to this conclusion, either, as there is no need to complicate things when it comes to the Big Three.

“We’re that good.”

James Harden has a simple explanation for why the Nets’ Big 3 doesn’t need much time to regain their chemistry.#NETSonYES pic.twitter.com/0h5FOu7Hp8

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) January 13, 2022

The Nets have three of the top-10 players in the league on their roster, all who require extra attention from defenses, making them absolutely unguardable collectively. Which makes every other player’s job easier and allows for at least one superstar to be on the court at all times. 

Wednesday night was arguably the best we've seen of the Nets with their Big 3.

Among the 16 games Brooklyn has played with all 3...

- 26 point win (best)
- 138 points (2nd-most)
- 35 assists (T-most) pic.twitter.com/vKiSwND4Pa

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 13, 2022

If they aren’t able to win it all with Kevin Durant, Harden and Kyrie all suiting up then that’s an indictment of them. 

Kevin Durant when asked if this win is a reminder to the league: “We’re not trying to make no statements to the league. I mean, who cares what they think. We know what we bring to the table and it’s just all about us. I’m sure people were watching the game tonight.”

— Chris Milholen (@ChrisMilholen) January 13, 2022

Of course the complication there is Kyrie’s part-time status. The easiest and obvious solution to that has always been for him to get vaccinated. However, I think it is at least fair to point out that the rules prohibiting him from playing at home don’t exactly make total sense. He was permitted to play in Chicago but couldn’t have attended the game. And visiting unvaccinated players can play in New York, but Kyrie can’t. 

To be clear on the hypothetical ability for a team to pay a fine for an unvaccinated player to play in a marketplace that local ordinances forbid: NBA memo to organizations on September 1 says that teams must follow local laws and players who don't comply won't be able to play.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 13, 2022

The Warriors, Suns, Bucks and every other contender better hope that situation doesn’t get resolved, because like Kyrie right now, with him in the lineup, the rest of the league has no shot.