When top NBA players come with baggage, head coaches have to be able to finesse team relationships in order to make sure team chemistry stays intact. When the Brooklyn Nets signed free agents Kyrie Irving (from Boston) and Kevin Durant (Golden State), they were opening the door to two players who have had a history of volatility in the NBA.
By reputation, Irving has always been an electrifying player with the ability to pick up his team and put it on his back. The same could certainly be said of Durant, who has established himself as one of the best offensive players in NBA history. However, Irving brings with him a propensity to shut himself off from teammates, coaches and even team ownership. In Durant’s case, it’s an issue of volatility both on and off the court. The question is, can the Nets find the team chemistry they will need to compete for an NBA title with both these players stirring the pot? It's a question sports bettors will need to consider if they get the bet365 bonus code and want to wager on the Nets.
There’s no doubt the baggage Irving brings has been common knowledge throughout the NBA. His mood swings are almost as legendary as his hot streaks on the court. At this early juncture in the season, Nets players and coaches have already experienced one of the scoring guard’s episodes while on a preseason trip to China. When his demeanor suddenly changed in midtrip, it left everyone a little uneasy. It also left team officials wondering if things can get worse.
So far on the season, Irving is striking as hot as anyone in the NBA. After the team's first three games, Irving is averaging 37.7 points, 6.3 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game. But….What happens when Irving hits his witching hour?
There is hope Durant of all people can help keep Irving on an even keel. While Durant sits on the injury list (Achilles) with an estimated return date of sometime around the beginning of the year, it remains to be seen just how good the Nets will be at full capacity. It also remains to be seen what happens to the team’s chemistry when Irving goes into his shell and Durant explodes at the officials in the same timeframe. It feels like a powder keg just waiting to explode.
If Nets management has any hope Durant will keep Irving in check, they might want to take into account what Durant said to ESPN’s Jackie MacMullen in a recent interview:
"I look at Kyrie as somebody who is an artist, You have to leave him alone. You know what he'll bring to the table every night because he cares so much about the game."
Durant then added, "Now, it might not be how other people want him to care about it. He has his way of doing things. I respect who he is and what he does. He has all the intangibles you want in a teammate and a great player. So, how he gets to the point to be ready for 7:30 every night, I'm supporting him 100 percent."
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