Back-to-back losses and a cratered-out defense hasn’t dimmed Kyrie Irving’s confidence. At least if the Nets star’s social media is any indication.
After Brooklyn suffered a pair of stinging defeats in Cleveland, they returned home to host Miami in consecutive games Saturday and again Monday. And Irving — recently back from a seven-game absence for personal reasons — took to Instagram to say he’s not worried, and fans shouldn’t be either.
“Don’t trip. It’s a long journey. We will be on that stage. The stage where the best of the best meet. … You know. The main stage. Where those who can, do. And those who cannot talk about those that are doing,” Irving posted on Instagram.
“If you rolling with us, great. Let’s rock. If you’re not, you know you wanna talk about our greatness anyway.”
Kevin Durant chimed in, commenting on the post, “Speak on it king!!”
Brooklyn was on a four-game winning streak when Irving returned from his personal leave, but they dropped his first two games to the scrappy Cavaliers upon his return.
Irving had 37 points in his first game back and another 38 in the second. But Collin Sexton started opposite him at point guard and lit the Nets up for 42 points in the first contest.
In a separate Instagram post, Irving quoted Luis Marques in saying, “Do not judge others, without first judging yourself. There is no strength without knowing thyself.”
In speaking with reporters after Friday’s loss in Cleveland, Irving had expressed similar confidence. The All-Star said the Nets didn’t “want to be the flip-the-switch team, we don’t. We want to be the team that’s consistently dominating. And we’ll get there.” And there is precedent to support his patience.
Though some superteams have come together quickly, like Kevin Garnett’s Celtics in 2007-08, most take a while to mesh and get up to full speed.
Brooklyn came into Saturday’s game against Miami at 9-8, the same record as the 2010-11 Heat in LeBron James’ first season to through as many games. They went on to reach the finals, then won the title the next season.
Irving himself had first-hand experience when his Cavaliers opened 1-3 in James’ return and just 5-7, before running off eight straight victories en route to the 2015 Finals. Irving hit the iconic Game 7 winner the next season to deliver a championship.
Even closer to home, the Nets opened just 3-10 after acquiring Garnett and Paul Pierce to Joe Johnson Nets in 2013-14. They were 9-19 before winning 11 of their next 14 and eventually reaching the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Of course, Irving’s Nets have even loftier goals: the main stage.
