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#3 The Brooklyn Nets can play competitive defense
The Brooklyn Nets' weak defense was one of the biggest concerns raised by many NBA analysts and fans. The fact that they only played eight games with Kyrie, KD and Harden playing together made everyone wonder how that may impact the Nets defense.
However, their defense was key in helping them win the series against the Boston Celtics and force the series against the Milwaukee Bucks to be played till Game 7.
The Brooklyn Nets were unfazed by the Bucks' offensive prowess as they emerged as the better defensive side in multiple games during the series.
The Nets restricted the Bucks to just 101.9 points per contest across seven games. Their defensive rating of 104.5 was also much better compared to that of their opponents, who had a 107.3 rating during the series. Before the Nets series, the Bucks scored 118.5 points per game against the Miami Heat, which again shows how highly competitive the Nets were on the defensive end.
#2 Kevin Durant is in top condition physically
Kevin Durant playing 299 minutes in the seven-game series against the Bucks wasn't ideal considering how injury-prone has been this season. It was the highest for any player in the series between the Nets and the Bucks. He also suffered one of the worst injuries (ACL) in the sport in the 2019 NBA Finals, which sidelined him for the entirety of the 2019-2020 season.
There were heavy concerns regarding his physical condition heading into this season. Him being on the bench for just 17 minutes in the last three games speaks volumes about how lethal he still is at 32 years of age.
The Brooklyn Nets will be relieved to witness that and the fact that he was easily the best performer in the 2021 NBA playoffs for them.
#1 Brooklyn Nets 'Big-Three' have a healthy chemistry
James Harden joined the Brooklyn Nets to form the NBA's latest 'big-three' alongside Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. There were questions raised regarding their fit with each other. The three stars are arguably the best iso-players in the league, who are ball-dominant and have been primary scorers for their previous teams.
Everyone wondered who would step down from being the team's frontline offensive player and if there would be chemistry issues. However, all three players did just fine in the regular season and the NBA playoffs as well. Harden accepting the role of a facilitator played a huge part in that, while Kyrie Irving giving up ball-handling responsibilities was also crucial.
The trio did a tremendous job in their debut playoff series, playing together against the Boston Celtics and proving they can sync well. They scored 426 of the Brooklyn Nets' 617 points in that series. The trio also tied the record for most points in a Game 4 blowout win against the Celtics in round one, scoring 104 of the Nets' 141 points.
