Tag: Kenny Atkinson

Kyrie Irving, Nets react to chants from Celtics fans

On Wednesday, Celtics fans were loud and clear about their feelings toward Kyrie Irving. He and his teammates weighed in on what happened.

Even though Kyrie Irving didn’t make the trip to Boston with the Nets, the point guard was still a the forefront of the discussion surrounding the game.

Well before tipoff, signs with Irving’s face and the word “coward” were posted outside TD Garden. Throughout the night, Celtics fans chanted “Kyrie sucks” and “Where is Ky-rie?”

It was impossible to ignore.

After the game, players on both sides were asked about the matter.

Believe it or not, Jarrett Allen expected worse:

I give Celtics fans a big up about it: They’re passionate fans. They were yelling it the whole game. … It could’ve been the whole game booing us every time we touched the ball. If Kyrie was here, it probably would’ve been 10 times worse. But they were giving it to us.

Dinwiddie was more confused about the fact Boston fans chanted without Irving even being present:

I had no preconceived notions. Whatever they had to say, he heard it through the TV I am sure, but … he’s not even here.

Kenny Atkinson kept his answer on the matter simple:

Don’t give it a second thought. Just tune it out.

Over on the other side, Celtics head coach Brad Stevens praised Irving before the game.

Celtics point guard Kemba Walker didn’t get caught up in the anti-Kyrie chants:

I don’t really pay attention to the Kyrie stuff. That’s just the fans and how they feel. That’s not something I’m really paying close attention to.

Celtics wing Jaylen Brown encouraged his team’s fan base to move on:

I think everything worked out for the better for everybody. I don’t think anybody in Boston should have anything to complain or boo about, to be honest. I think we’re winning, playing good basketball, the Celtics look good, Boston fans should be nothing but happy. I think the energy should shift from that to being more positive.

Irving handled the matter a little differently. He took to Instagram to let everyone know exactly how he felt about the way everything went:

Brad Stevens praises Kyrie Irving before Celtics host Nets

Brad Stevens continues to wish Kyrie Irving well, even though Celtics fans are still visibly upset with him.

The fact Kyrie Irving isn’t playing at TD Garden against the Celtics isn’t sitting well with Boston fans. He also might miss the second game of their home-and-home.

Before Wednesday’s game in Boston, Kenny Atkinson did not have a status update or a set timetable for the point guard.

While there are those quick to criticize Irving, Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens is not one of them. Though some reports indicate there were issues between the two of them last season, Stevens made clear before Wednesday game his stance hasn’t changed. He wishes Irving nothing but the best:

I think that is one of the things that, unfortunately, when you’re really, really good at something, the level of scrutiny is even higher. He’s one of the best players in the NBA. And the level of scrutiny is unfair, but it comes with the territory of all those guys. I think that’s why it’s so important that we constantly remind ourselves how good they are. The way that people talked about his time — I mean, he was second team All-NBA. He was ridiculous the year before. He’s a heck of a player and he gets to choose where he wants to go play, gets to go home. I think that’s just part of it. I don’t particularly like it. Even being in the seat where you’re getting too much praise is uncomfortable. But get gotta react to something and, unfortunately, we’re pretty reactionary.

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Nets ability to stay connected has carried them through Kyrie Irving’s absence

The fact Brooklyn’s two best players throughout this stretch without Kyrie Irving have been Nets for years doesn’t surprise Keny Atkinson.

Jarrett Allen and Spencer Dinwiddie have been two of Brooklyn’s best players throughout 2019-20, and they’ve both taken major steps forward in the time Kyrie Irving has been sidelined due to a right shoulder impingement.

That’s not to say Irving’s presence on the floor doesn’t allow them to flourish — they both had their share of strong showings alongside Irving. Their play is a sign of their maturation as players, especially the more mild-mannered Allen.

With those two being the ones leading the charge over the last five games, the rest of the roster has had an easier time rallying around the pair because they’re part of the core that’s called Brooklyn home for some time. Kenny Atkinson stressed the same point to reporters following the 108-106 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday.

It’s just how connected these guys are and it does help that it’s guys that have been here for a long time. I think that continuity helps. [Garrett Temple] is kinda the new guy in that group. [Taurean Prince], too. But we got guys that have been here that understand what we’re doing, that helps a lot.

Atkinson stressed Brooklyn’s connectedness a second time in his postgame press conference. He explained it’s why he felt confident about the Nets’ chances going into halftime.

You feel like they were locked into this game. They were ready to go. I thought, physically, in the first half, we did not look good, but I felt like we got stronger as the game went on. But I think it’s their mental approach. They’re a connected group right now. They’re feeling good about themselves. It carried over [and] got us a win tonight.

With their improved connectedness comes improved defense, which plays in Brooklyn’s favor with their two best scorers (Irving and Caris LeVert) out. Now the Nets just need to find a way to maintain the chemistry they’re developing when their injured teammates return.

Nets creating more turnovers without changing much an important sign

Kenny Atkinson’s remarks after Brooklyn’s 103-101 win over the New York Knicks indicate the Nets’ chemistry is getting stronger.

After struggling defensively to start the 2019-20 season, the Brooklyn Nets have finally stabilized things on that end of the floor.

Naturally, an indicator of the Nets’ defensive improvements is their opponents’ points per game. Over the last three contests, Brooklyn has surrendered 101, 97 and 91 points.

In part, this a result of the Nets minimizing the length of their rough patches — which were sometimes quarter-long at the start of the year. When you boil it down further, Brooklyn is forcing turnovers more consistently.

Over the last five games — since Kyrie Irving was first ruled out — the Nets have forced double-digit turnovers each night. Their longest stretch of 10-plus forced turnover games in 2019-20 had previously been three games.

Of course, this is a good sign for the Nets — their record over the last five games shows that. But Kenny Atkinson’s remarks about the turnovers to reporters following Sunday’s 101-103 win against the New York Knicks indicates this won’t be a flash in the pan:

It’s all on the players. Really, there was no scheme, nothing in place. We weren’t blitzing. We didn’t extend our defense. It’s just, these guys out here are defending their tails off right now. I think we’re in the right position defensively. I think that’s helping. But, again, it’s all on the players, they’re creating the turnovers.

The Nets expressed at the beginning of the season chemistry was an issue, and it could only be resolved over time. Well, this is a sign the Nets are starting to come together.

Atkinson isn’t asking them to do anything differently. The players now have a better feel for what it is they need to do and how to work with one another to accomplish their defensive objectives.

How Kenny Atkinson would game plan vs. Spencer Dinwiddie right now

Spencer Dinwiddie has been on a tear with Kyrie Irving sidelined, forcing teams to adjust and guard him in ways they haven’t before.

Spencer Dinwiddie has responded to Kyrie Irving’s extended absence due to a right shoulder impingement by playing some of the best basketball of his NBA career.

On Sunday, Dinwiddie scored the most points he ever has against the New York Knicks, finishing with 30 points in the 103-101 win. The performance also extended his streak of 20-plus point games to five, which is the longest stretch of his playing career.

Dinwiddie has been Brooklyn’s best player since Irving went down, there are no two ways about it. And it hasn’t mattered how teams approach the point guard, he continues to be someone the Nets can rely on.

The Knicks approached Dinwiddie the same way Kenny Atkinson would’ve. He told reporters the fact Dinwiddie was still able to succeed despite New York’s game plan speaks volumes about the way he’s playing right now:

Difference maker, right now. Again, they were double-teaming him all night. Credit to [the Knicks], I would’ve done the same thing. And he did a good job of getting it out and then exploiting the mismatch. What he’s also doing, he’s doing it on both ends. He’s doing it on the defensive end. He’s playing really good basketball.

Why Nets can’t afford to rush Kyrie Irving back

Kyrie Irving’s injury may get worse if the Nets try to bring him back to soon. Right now, rest is the best option for the point guard.

What started as an injury Kyrie Irving was able to play through in Brooklyn’s loss to the Denver Nuggets has developed into something far more problematic.

From the start, the Nets have diagnosed Irving’s injury as a right shoulder impingement. Up until recently, the Nets point guard has been day-to-day, but now Irving expected to miss Brooklyn’s next three games, including what was supposed to be his return to Boston on Thanksgiving Eve.

Prior to Brooklyn’s 101-91 win over the Charlotte Hornets, Kenny Atkinson told reporters “I don’t think it’s a long-term thing, [but] I wouldn’t say we’re being over-cautious. … I don’t think he can play through it right now quite honestly.”

Atkinson also added, “The shoulder is just sensitive, especially for a point guard, like a quarterback.”

Although Atkinson doesn’t feel the Nets are being “over-cautious,” it may be the right course of action. Penn Medicine’s director of Sports Shoulder Dr. John Kelly IV told Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News, “The longer he experiences pain not relieved by rest, the more likely surgery will be indicated.” based on his understanding of the “impingement” diagnosis. (Kelly has not dealt with Irving throughout his injury process.)

Kelly also added, “There is a high likelihood that Mr. Irving has a labral tear or loosening of the shoulder capsule due to repetitive stress.”