Kenny Atkinson didn’t want to go there, he didn’t want to answer the question he knew was coming. The head coach of the Brooklyn Nets was asked by the media for his thoughts on the latest injury news about his star player, Kyrie Irving.
Irving has missed 33 of the Nets’ 53 games this season. In the 20 games he’s been on the court, he’s brought his A-game to Brooklyn. He’s averaging 27.4 points per game, 6.4 assists, and 5.2 rebounds. The issue, however, has been what’s keeping him off the court.
A right shoulder injury sidelined Irving for 26 games earlier this season. Instead of having surgery, Irving decided to go with alternate options. Rest, rehab, and ultimately… a cortisone shot, helped the 27-year old six-time All-Star return to action.
When you’re already playing with an injury, the chances of you hurting yourself again increase. So, even though Irving’s knee injury, against the Washington Wizards, was a separate incident… it still, nevertheless, was another injury.
When you also choose a cortisone shot over surgery, you’re more than likely delaying the inevitable. For the Brooklyn Nets, it appears the inevitable has come.
And maybe that’s why Atkinson didn’t want to go there when he was asked the inevitable question.
The latest injury news for Brooklyn has Irving set to see a specialist because he’s once again aggravated his right shoulder.
Atkinson, when asked if Irving could miss the remainder of the season, tried to sidestep it.
“I don’t want to go there,” he told reporters.
But the writing is on the wall, no matter how much Atkinson and the Nets don’t want to go there. It should no longer be avoided.
Quite frankly, sitting Kyrie Irving for the remainder of this season needs to be this team’s next move.
Because, it’s time. It’s time for the Nets to start doing with Irving what they’ve been doing with Kevin Durant.
There’s video of Durant practicing and looking good enough to dream of a potential return before the end of this season. Stop, that’s not happening.
But some fans will say the Nets are currently in the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race. And we all know how unpredictable the east is, so maybe Durant can be back in time to help … stop, that’s not happening either.
Because the message from the team has been consistent all season that Durant will not be available. And now it’s time to be just as consistent with Irving, especially after this latest round of injury news having to do with him.
Because you didn’t sign Kyrie Irving last summer to a four-year, 136.5 million deal just to see how he looks in a Brooklyn jersey without Kevin Durant. The vision was always Irving and Durant, on the court, together. And while Durant is rehabbing his Achilles injury, Irving had this season to acclimate himself to playing at Barclays Center for the home team.
Well, if 20 games of watching Irving acclimate himself are all we get, then the Nets should be fine with that and start to reallocate towards next season.
A specialist could suggest more rest for Irving with treatment, maybe that’ll get him back on the court this season. But this injury indicates an increasing possibility of surgery. So, wouldn’t it be logical to give that serious thought now rather than later?
And what about the playoffs?
This doesn’t mean that Brooklyn can’t make a run at the playoffs this season, there’s enough talent on the roster to fight for that seventh seed. But risking further damage to Irving’s body in the process isn’t good business for anyone involved.
In the four years Atkinson, under general manager Sean Marks, have been running the Nets, every move they’ve made has been carefully done. From the salary cap to performance team, the Nets have moved with precision and a clear and concise message that this is about having the patience to play the long game.
They’re in a position now few expected they’d be in, four years earlier. Their work to restore credibility to the franchise eventually led to Irving and Durant walking through the door. Now it’s time to start looking towards the next big step of getting them on the court together.
Durant is on schedule to return next season, it’s up to Atkinson and Marks to make sure Irving is there with him.
