During the last weeks of the NBA season, the Milwaukee Bucks tried to avoid having to face the Brooklyn Nets in the first round. The Boston Celtics took on that task head-on and eliminated the Nets, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving from the playoffs. Boston gained the confidence necessary to advance to the NBA Finals after winning the series.
Brooklyn also benefited from the sweep going into this season. At least according to Kyrie Irving, who spoke about it on the Nets Kingdom.
My G, we were defeated 4-0. That is how it was intended to go. Inspiration, man. Especially after playing the Celtics, we required that humiliating experience. That opposition was predetermined from the beginning. We're going to have to meet them again. They will be present where they will be. However, I got to watch those Boston youngsters grow up, bro. Therefore, I'm delighted they had to go through us to watch them perform as they did on the Finals stage last year and get that far.
Was it truly so humiliating? The Celtics were relatively big favorites to win the series, so the sweep was unexpected.
Did Brooklyn require a wake-up call to be humbled? Although they could be contenders going into this season, the Nets have a lot of questions: Can Kevin Durant maintain his health and perform at an MVP level? Will Kyrie Irving be committed and focused throughout the entire season? Will Ben Simmons accept a role, play more off the ball, and gel with Irving and Durant? Is Joe Harris in good health and shooting well again? Can Nic Claxton advance and become the defensive center that the Nets require? Can Royce O'Neal provide them with the wing defense they need?
From there, the list keeps going forever. No NBA club has as many fundamental questions as the Nets this year, despite their potential for contention.
So perhaps the Nets' being swept was learning and humble experience for them. They might benefit from it this season. However, it is merely a little fragment of a much greater whole.
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