32 • January 6, 2022 - January 12, 2022
THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS
Sports With Kyrie Irving back, the Brooklyn Nets must manage expectations Coming into this season, the Brooklyn Nets were the betting favorite to win the NBA title. But Kyrie Ir ving ’s long and divisive absence due to his COVID vaccination status changed the odds. Still unvaccinated, he is back with the team, unable to play games in New York where there is a mandate requiring proof of vaccination to enter indoor arenas. The Nets were able to stay at or near the top of the Eastern Conference without him. Entering last night’s game versus the Indiana Pacers on the road, they were 23-12, in second place behind the Chicago Bulls, who were 25-10. Expectations for the Nets’ title hopes have increased with the seven-time All-Star rejoining Kevin Durant and James Harden to form one of, if not
(Bill Moore photo)
By VINCENT DAVIS Special to the AmNews
With the return of Kyrie Irving to the Brooklyn Nets’ lineup, head coach Steve Nash’s and the fans’ hopes for an NBA title have risen.
the best, trio in the league. Tuesday’s 118-104 home loss to the Memphis Grizzlies showed how much the Nets need Ir ving to help counter some of the NBA’s other top backcourt playmakers. Ja Morant torched them for 36 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists at the Barclays Center, handing Brooklyn its first three-game losing streak of the season. All of them at home. “He’s special,” said Morant’s teammate Desmond Bane, who had 29 points for the Grizzlies. Memphis improved to 24-14 and No. 4 in the West after the win. “People debate whether or not he should be an AllStar,” added Bane, “but I think we should be debating whether he’s the best point guard in the league. “I don’t think it’s any
question he’s an All-Star. The real conversation is, ‘Is he the best point guard in the league?’” Harden said t he Net s had n o t pu t u p en ough resist an ce d ur ing th eir l osing st retch. “We’ re letting teams d o what t he y want, g et sh o t s t hat t he y want,” he explaine d. Hard en had 19 fo r t he Nets while Durant s co re d a tea m-h igh 26. “We can’t panic. It’s been a crazy period,” noted Nets head coach Steve Nash. “We gotta rebound better, make less mistakes defensively.” How smoothly Irving melds into the rotation will be a wait and see action. “He’s got to get his rhythm, and figure out how to play,” said Durant after Monday’s defeat. “He’s an efficient player that can put pressure on the defense.” The Nets will host the Milwaukee Bucks tomorrow and the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday before road games against the Portland Trailblazers on Monday and the Bulls next Wednesday.
Home court can be key to the Knicks climbing in the standings on Dec. 22 and hasn’t played a game since Dec. 16. He is not expected to play again until the middle of next month. Kemba Walker, who was the Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the week of Dec. 20-26, has not suited up for the last two games as he was hampered by knee soreness. The COVID and injury circumstances have provided young players such as rookie guard Quentin Grimes valuable minutes. With COVID-19 and injuries impacting the Knicks’ Tuesday began a lineup, rookie guard Quentin Grimes has been stretch in which AM NEWS afforded valuable minutes of playing time the Knicks will 01/06/22 be at the Garden for eight out of 10 games, continu- Their only road dates are this Saturing tonight versus the Boston Celtics. day in a rematch with the Celtics and (Bill Moore photo)
By JAIME C. HARRIS AmNews Sports Editor After having much of their roster miss multiple games over the past three-plus weeks, being placed in the NBA’s Health and Safety Protocols as a result of a surge in global COVID-19 cases, the Knicks had several of their core group back on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, where they defeated the Indiana Pacers by 104-94 to improve 18-20. Julius Randle returned following a twogame absence. He was placed in the health and safety protocols prior to the Knicks’ New Year’s Eve 95-80 road loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Randle’s 30 points and 16 rebounds against the Pacers was a much needed production infusion for the Knicks, who had lost their previous two games. As was RJ Barrett’s team-high 32 points. Barrett was placed in protocols on Dec. 12 and returned to the lineup on Christmas Day. “I think that the aggressiveness of RJ attacking the rim, and then for Julius to do what he did today was just remarkable,” said Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau. Injuries have also been a contributing factor to players being out, including point guard Derrick Rose, who underwent surgery on his right ankle
Saturday, Jan. 15 versus the Atlanta Hawks. It could be an opportune 19-day span for the Knicks to make up ground in the Eastern Conference race. They were in the 11th spot when the league’s schedule tipped off last night, a half game behind the 18-19 Celtics. Ten teams in each conference will play beyond their final regular season game, with the 7, 8, 9 and 10 seeds taking part in the Play-In Tournament, with two of those four moving on to the playoffs. What may be a disadvantage for the Knicks over the next 17 days is they have labored at MSG this season. The Knicks will go into tonight’s contest just 8-11 in their own building thus far with a negative point differential of -2.3. They finished last year’s regular season 25-11 at the Garden, holding a positive scoring margin of +3.6. Overall, the Knicks haven’t been at the even mark since Dec. 7 when they were 12-12 and have not been above .500 since Nov. 30 at 11-10.
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