How did Irving grow as a player this year?
Alex Schiffer, Nets beat writer: Irving was able to stay healthy this season and playing alongside Durant and James Harden allowed him to play off the ball more and get better looks from defenses because of the two stars around him.
He had long stretches at the free-throw line where he didn’t miss and was still able to create for others. Irving has always been a great shooter both from 3 and inside the arc as well as at the charity stripe. This was a season where he was able to put up the numbers in all three.
What makes achieving 50-40-90 so tough?
Schiffer: All three markers are achieved by multiple players every year, but it’s hard to be that elite in all three at the same time. It takes a certain kind of player that is able to shoot enough 3s to be eligible and not a post player that may occasionally stretch the floor has that luxury. No member of the club is a traditional center.
Do the Nets match up better with the Celtics or Wizards?
Schiffer: The Celtics for sure. The Nets have struggled against quick guards this season and Collin Sexton‘s 16-point performance on Sunday before getting ejected was the latest proof. Brooklyn would struggle with containing Russell Westbrook and Bradley Beal.
The Celtics are a shell of themselves with Jaylen Brown out for the year and the Wizards are the hotter team. Plus, it would be cool to see Irving playing at TD Garden as a Net in front of fans, and full-circle for the Nets to complete their rebuild by beating the Boston team that made the playoffs off their draft picks from the Paul Pierce/Kevin Garnett trade.
(Photo: Sarah Stier / Getty Images)
