Right here is the crux of the problem for the Nets, summed up within the reply to a query in NBA.com’s nameless survey of all 30 basic managers: Which group’s degree of success is hardest to foretell?
Brooklyn led the pack at 32 %, almost doubling every other group.
What are the Nets going to be? No one has any thought. And after cratering from title favorites to first-round losers in 2022, the vary of outcomes is all over.
“New look? I don’t know,” Kevin Durant mentioned, concerning the offense, following Monday night time’s preseason opener. “I believe we all know how we play, each one among us. It’s nearly discovering rhythm on the market, getting our legs. It’s good to see Ben [Simmons] again, it’s good to see [Edmond Sumner] again, Joe [Harris] again after having some robust surgical procedures. So, yeah, as soon as we get our legs up underneath us, everyone finds out precisely what they need to do on the market, I believe we’ll be in fine condition.
“However for essentially the most half, it could take a few days, a few preseason video games, a few weeks, who is aware of?”
Precisely what it will seem like with a wholesome Durant, Simmons and Kyrie Irving all taking part in is just one a part of the equation. Previous to James Harden being traded for Simmons, the Nets barely received to see all three of their superstars on the ground on the similar time — the three performed simply 16 video games collectively together with the playoffs over 1 ½ seasons. Brooklyn went 13-3 in these video games, however you don’t get titles for that.
Simmons, who had not performed a aggressive basketball sport for the reason that Sixers have been eradicated from the 2021 postseason, comes together with his personal set of questions concerning his compete degree (he was extensively criticized for sitting out the collection in opposition to Boston) and readiness to return after sitting out for greater than a yr, in addition to his taking pictures capability, which has dogged him since he broke into the league.
There may be additionally the not-so-small matter of Durant having requested a commerce over the summer time and later asking that coach Steve Nash and basic supervisor Sean Marks be let go as a situation of him staying earlier than backing down.
The expertise may be very a lot in place. The entire thing may additionally implode.
“It was enjoyable messing up,” Simmons mentioned following Monday’s 127-108 loss to the Sixers within the group’s preseason opener, “as a result of I understand how good we might be.”
Simmons, in his Brooklyn debut, performed 19 minutes and shot 3 of 6 from the sphere with 5 assists. Harris, getting back from ankle surgical procedure, shot 2 of seven, all of which have been 3-pointers.
For a group that, technically, is returning each participant in its beginning lineup, the Nets have lots of inquiries to reply about how the offense will look — although ‘technically’ is doing lots of heavy lifting there. Durant, on Monday, was requested when he’ll know that issues are clicking.
“After we win video games within the common season,” he mentioned. “I imply, it’s sort of onerous to say. I believe to be trustworthy, it’s onerous to say when precisely it clicked. However I believe you already know you get used to your teammates every single day. You discuss, have conversations about the place you see one another and how one can assist one another and go from there.
“So the dialogue is at all times on with Ky, Ben, myself, Royce [O’Neal], the remainder of the fellows. So I believe it simply occurs.
“That’s a tricky query. I don’t know.”
Finally, the reply may outline the season.
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