What does not kill you makes you stronger. Given how many times these Nets have come close to blowing up in 2022, the adage is that they should be extremely strong. In any case, they end the year 2022 with the best dynamics in the NBA…
However, between the part-time reinstatement of Kyrie Irving following his refusal to be vaccinated, the departure of James Harden, the dry elimination against the Celtics in the playoffs, the non-extension of Kyrie Irving, the transfer request from Kevin Durant and the divorce with Steve Nash, the year was still extremely turbulent in Brooklyn.
“It’s one of those years when, looking back, you can see the important moments for the club” explains Kevin Durant after the Nets’ 11th consecutive win. “We had different moments that brought us closer together as a group. At the end of the year, we are beginning to see how we can evolve together, and be efficient. As we envisaged in recent seasons, being a solid team that plays hard every night. We’ve been through a lot in this calendar year, but we’re expecting big things in 2023.”
For Ben Simmons, 2022 was also trying, both collectively and individually.
Finally balance?
“Lots of ups and downs” he confirms. “I don’t know how to sum it up. Basketball-wise, it was great. We started the year with a lot of expectations, outside noise, a lot of things that were happening but we found balance this season compared to everything that could have taken place during this busy year. »
For Kevin Durant, who wanted to leave the club during the summer, the most important moment seems to have been the departure of Steve Nash, and the appointment of Jacque Vaughn as head coach.
“When we came back to start the season, there was all the noise from the summer, but being able to get everyone together to start the year was cool. Then Jacque became the coach and we started to move forward. Obviously, it was a pivotal moment for us. Because there were not optimal things. »
Same story with Kyrie Irving.
“He puts you at ease”explains the leader. “When you walk into the locker room, nothing is forced, it’s neither too high nor too low. He just holds himself to a high standard, and he exemplifies what a leader should look like. As a “head coach”, as a leader, I was able to learn things from him. It’s just about being able to relate to everyone, and getting the best out of everyone. And that was a lesson for me. I feel that this year I learned to bring the best out of everyone, instead of trying to do everything alone or overthinking the game. We have good elements in this dressing room, good staff of coaches. So that should raise the level of the game, and make it easier.”
| Shots | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | bp | Int | CT | party | Points |
| Kevin Durant | 34 | 36.4 | 56.0 | 37.0 | 92.8 | 0.4 | 6.6 | 6.9 | 5.4 | 3.5 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 2.5 | 29.9 |
| Kyrie Irving | 25 | 36.7 | 48.8 | 36.2 | 91.3 | 0.8 | 4.1 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 2.8 | 26.1 |
| Nicholas Claxton | 32 | 28.1 | 74.3 | 0.0 | 46.0 | 2.5 | 6.0 | 8.5 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 11.9 |
| Tj Warren | 11 | 18.9 | 53.6 | 36.8 | 88.9 | 1.0 | 2.3 | 3.3 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 1.7 | 9.5 |
| Royce O’Neale | 33 | 35.2 | 40.5 | 42.5 | 64.0 | 0.8 | 4.2 | 4.9 | 4.2 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 3.2 | 9.4 |
| Joe Harris | 29 | 25.7 | 42.5 | 38.2 | 70.6 | 0.4 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 2.5 | 8.5 |
| Ben Simmons | 25 | 27.4 | 60.5 | 0.0 | 43.9 | 1.1 | 5.6 | 6.8 | 6.0 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 3.5 | 8.3 |
| Seth Curry | 23 | 21.1 | 42.9 | 38.9 | 94.4 | 0.2 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 1.9 | 8.3 |
| Yuta Watanabe | 22 | 19.5 | 55.7 | 52.3 | 73.3 | 0.7 | 2.2 | 2.9 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 1.6 | 7.9 |
| Edmond Sumner | 30 | 14.9 | 44.7 | 28.6 | 92.9 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 1.6 | 7.1 |
| cam thomas | 25 | 14.1 | 40.2 | 36.7 | 78.3 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 6.6 |
| Patty Mills | 24 | 11.8 | 48.0 | 43.5 | 93.3 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 5.8 |
| Markieff Morris | 19 | 11.4 | 44.3 | 48.7 | 100.0 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 4.2 |
| Day’ron Sharpe | 18 | 8.6 | 52.2 | 75.0 | 70.6 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 3.2 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 3.5 |
| David Duke | 14 | 9.0 | 44.2 | 0.0 | 50.0 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 1.6 | 3.0 |
| Kessler Edwards | 13 | 5.7 | 27.3 | 18.2 | 50.0 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 1.2 |
| Alondes Williams | 1 | 5.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
