The Brooklyn Nets are on the verge of getting eliminated from the 2022 NBA playoffs.
There are several reasons for the Nets being down 3-0 against the Boston Celtics. One of them is likely chemistry issues, as the team was rarely able to play at full strength during the regular season.
Nets star guard Kyrie Irving missed many games because of his vaccination status. That contributed to the team sliding down to the No. 7 seed entering the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Sports analyst Stephen A. Smith recently blasted Irving, stating that the seven-time All-Star cannot be trusted.
.@stephenasmith didn't hold back on Kyrie Irving 😳
"I would never give him a long-term contract again! He cannot be trusted. … He is one of the absolute professionals at missing work." pic.twitter.com/50iREUinkH
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) April 24, 2022
There is no doubt that Irving is one of the most skilled players in the sport. But his unavailability for much of the 2021-22 campaign caused several people around the league to call him out for his decision to not get vaccinated.
In addition, Irving is struggling against his former team so far in the first round of the playoffs. Over the past three games, he is averaging 21.7 points per game on 44.0 percent shooting. In contrast, the 6-foot-2 guard averaged 27.4 points per match on 46.9 percent shooting during the regular season.
His superstar teammate Kevin Durant is looking for answers himself. The former MVP is posting just 22.0 points per contest while shooting 36.5 percent from the field in the series.
No team in NBA history has come back from a 3-0 deficit to eventually win a playoff series. The Nets will try to change that in the coming days. Game 4 is on Monday.
