> On Friday, the Nets announced through their PR account that Kyrie Irving would be joining his teammates βpart-time,β ineligible to participate in Brooklynβs home games because of the New York City COVID-19 mandate. Then, on Saturday, news broke that Kyrie Irving had become the latest Net to enter health and safety protocols, joining his co-stars Kevin Durant and James Harden. Sources confirmed to NetsDaily that Irvingβs placement in the protocols was due to a positive COVID test. > > On the outside looking in, things seemed to escalate quickly in just 12 hours. In reality, the seeds of Brooklynβs decision were evident if we had just looked a little closer. > > The plan to bring back Kyrie Irving was put into motion as early as last week, sources tell me and NetsDaily. Setting the stage, the Nets made the decision on October 12 to ban Kyrie Irving from team activities until he was βeligible to be a full participant,β either by getting the COVID-19 vaccine... or until the New York City mandate changed. For the first two months of the season, the Nets did not waiver from that decision. That all changed after a mid-December meeting. > > With Kevin Durant and James Harden amongst the league leaders in minutes per game and shouldering a heavy load, an agent of at least one of them met with GM Sean Marks. > > The goal of that meeting was simple; It was time for Marks and Nets owner Joe Tsai to re-think the stance of disallowing Kyrie Irving from team activities including road games. Ideally, even as a part-time player, Irving could help preserve Durant and Harden for the playoffs, the argument went. > > Sources say that those discussions were somewhat contentious. Some within the Nets organization believed Marks left the meeting feeling as if his hand had been forced. Although Durant has signed an extension, Harden (and Irving) have player options in the summer. > > Shortly after, news broke via Shams Charania that there was βsudden optimismβ within the Nets organization that Kyrie Irvingβs return could be on the horizon.
>The Bucks miss Brook Lopez, but they still have the league's best rim protector. Opponents have shot just 46.2% at the rim when Antetokounmpo has been there, the best mark among 61 players who have defended at least 100 shots at the rim this season
Taken from the NBA's official power rankings article for today. Here's a link to the stats mentioned
Personally I'd say Gobert has been a better rim protector than Giannis this season (slightly higher FG% allowed on a lot more attempts, plus his impact in changing shot profiles as well as just defending shots) but there's no denying Giannis has stepped pretty capably into Brook's shoes when he has needed to.
The article also mentions that Giannis has played 71% of his clutch minutes this season at the 5, so a lot of this great rim protection is in high leverage situations.
>Sean Marks: "I have not talked to Kyrie about vaccination status. I don't think that's appropriate right now. The times I've gone to see him are about forming bonds and forming friendships."
>In regards to the players, Sean Marks says everyone was on board with this decision to bring Kyrie backβ¦
>Sean Marks said he has not seen Kyrie Irving work out yet.
>Sean Marks on Kyrie playing part-time: "We're looking at putting a group of people together out there that are going to be able to participate out there fully... We're not looking for people that are out there part-time, that wouldn't be fair."
>Sean Marks on the decision not to allow Kyrie Irving to be a part-time player: "This is a decisions that ultimately Joe Tsai and myself made."
>Marks wouldn't address possibility of trading Kyrie Irving. He says the goal is to get him back.
>Sean Marks: "The hope is weβll have Kyrie back. Weβll welcome him back with open arms, under a different set of circumstances."
>Sean Marks says all parties were consulted in the Kyrie Irving decision: "Will there be pushback from Kyrie and his camp? I'm sure this isn't a decision that they will like."
>Sean Marks on the timing of this decision: "This is the time to do it and move on."
Lmfao somebody really asked this:
>Marks on if Kyrie Irving is vaΡΡinated: "If he was vaΡΡinated, we wouldn't be having this discussion."
Based on the recent news that GOP members of Congress met and organized the Stop the Steal event. What happens if Congress expels Mark Meadows, Marjorie Greene, Paul Gosar, Lauren Boebert & Mo Brooks? How would it affect the midterms on November 22?
Ugh Brooks Marks is so annoying with his white privilege. He 'designed' track suits. What a fashion FAIL!!
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