3 ways in which the Brooklyn Nets can run their offense without Kyrie Irving in the 2021-22 NBA season

The Brooklyn Nets are going to be one of the most dangerous teams in the entire NBA for the upcoming 2021-22 NBA season. There's no question about it. Even with the recent uncertainty involving the playing status of Kyrie Irving, this Nets team still has a remarkable amount of talent on its roster. After showcasing just how dangerous they can be during the regular season last year, Brooklyn dealt with a number of injuries in the playoffs and would lose in seven games to the Milwaukee Bucks.

The loss to Milwaukee sent a clear message to the front office. They will need to go out and attack the offseason with the goal of adding to the depth of this roster. What was most terrifying about this Brooklyn team was how good they were in the small sample size of games in which the trio of superstars was healthy. Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving would combine to play a total of just eight games together last season. During those eight games, the Nets were a nightmare for the opposition, and it looked as if the only thing that could stop the Nets was injuries. That's exactly what ended up happening, as both Harden and Irving dealt with injuries in the Playoffs. So what will this year's offense look like for the Brooklyn Nets? Let's take a look at a couple of ways the Nets can attack on the offensive side of the ball.

#3 Tempo and Space

James Harden should be the man in charge of the offense for the Brooklyn Nets

After having one of the most dominant offenses in the NBA last year, the argument can be made that this Brooklyn team got stronger. The Kyrie Irving situation will continue to linger over this roster, but there's no denying that the depth the Nets have this year is much deeper compared to last year. The Nets added an important piece during free agency, bringing in Patty Mills as an extra punch in their backcourt. The veteran guard should be a crucial part of this Nets rotation, and could even become a player that is on the court at the end of games. Brooklyn finished last season third in transition offense, and that was with a limited number of games between Kevin Durant and James Harden. That number is most likely going to stay up towards the top of the NBA. With a number of lethal outside shooters on the roster as well, this Brooklyn Nets team will look to spread the floor and allow Harden and Durant to attack with the potential to hit shooters for open looks on the perimeter.

#2 Versatility

LaMarcus Aldridge could be a big weapon for the Brooklyn Nets

What's been even more impressive about the Brooklyn Nets offseason is the amount of talent they've added to their frontcourt. After becoming a mid-season free agent, Blake Griffin was brought in and fit perfectly with his new role for the Brooklyn Nets. Griffin does a lot of little things that the Nets need on both sides of the floor, and he should continue to be a crucial "glue guy" for this offense. Veterans LaMarcus Aldridge and Paul Millsap were signed during the offseason as well. Both players have a history of creating offense through post-up games, which should give Brooklyn another intriguing wrinkle in their offense. With young big man Nic Claxton on the roster as well, the Nets now have a number of bigs they can use to create some different looks on the offensive side of the ball.

#1 Firepower and Chaos

Steve Nash will have plenty of firepower to experiment with for the Brooklyn Nets

At the end of the day, head coach Steve Nash is going to have a serious amount of firepower to play with. It's a heck of an advantage for a coach, as Kerr can experiment with playing to specific strengths depending on the lineup. If Kyrie Irving misses an extended amount of time, expect James Harden to be the man in charge when it comes to playmaking and running the offense. Harden thrived last year when it came to putting teammates in a position to succeed. The one thing we should know about this Nets team is that they are going to continue to be dangerous in transition. With Harden and Durant running the break, the Nets will be able to use shooting weapons such as Joe Harris, Patty Mills, and even rookie guard Cam Thomas to stretch the floor.

The added front-court depth could also lead to an emphasis on the pick-and-roll game. LaMarcus Aldridge and Paul Millsap have the ability to stretch the floor with their outside shooting, and the Nets finished last year fourth in the NBA when it came to pick-and-roll offense when it came to the roll man. With James Harden and Patty Mills running the offense at times, it could mean an increase in the number of sets that involve pick-and-roll action.