Conflict Over Curiosity
By: Isang S. Isang
Tags: NBA, LeBron James, Brooklyn Nets, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving

Conflict Over Curiosity

NBAE via Getty Images

The Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers are already on a collision course to meet in this season’s NBA Finals. But the media would rather The Nets derail themselves before making it there. We are only 2 games into the 2020–21 NBA season but two things are already crystal clear to basketball fans.

The Lakers are even better than they were last year and are rightfully the favorites to repeat their championship. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving on the same team are down right frightening for the rest of the league.

One more thing is also crystal clear to basketball fans such as myself…The media seems disappointed about #2. The Brooklyn Net’s new superstar duo of Kyrie and KD (also known as “7/11”) have looked sensational in their first 2 games together. They washed the injured and out gunned Golden State Warriors a few days ago on opening night. Cool, that was to be expected. But yesterday, they dismantled the Boston Celtics and handed out all types of coal on Christmas Day. Naturally, there were many curious questions asked during the offseason about The Net’s and how this team would function with 2 of the most “sensitive” superstar players in the league.

Will 1 ball be enough?

Who will lead the Team?

Will KD still be KD after his achilles injury?

Should The Nets trade for James Harden?

1 ball seems to work just fine.

Kyrie is the team’s vocal leader, while KD leads by example.

Kevin Durant looks just like his old Finals MVP self after an injury that is 1 of the most brutal to athletes and basketball players specifically. He’s not only still pulling up from 3 and devastating defenders but he seems to be moving around just fine on defense himself.

No - The Nets not only should not trade for James Harden, but they don’t need him. Adding him would throw off the team’s chemistry and fit on the court.

There are other curious questions still to ask and answer but all of them seem more fun to me than wishing for injuries, media mayhem, discontent with supporting role players, etc. I get it, conflict is entertaining. Always has been and always will be. But as a basketball fan I enjoy watching the best players and teams play against each other. Wanting Brooklyn to self destruct seems very scrooge-ish and haven’t we all had a long enough year?

Kyrie and KD haven’t done themselves any favors in terms of their relationships with the media, this we know. But reporters and writers should instead hope the Nets take over the eastern conference and meet the Lakers in the Finals. Why? Because it would be amazing. Lebron & Anthony Davis vs Kyrie & KD. The games 2 best interior players against the games 2 best perimeter players, with outstanding supporting casts surrounding them in a best of 7? Sign me up. Sign up even the most casual basketball fan after last year’s Bubble Finals ratings understandably took a dip from previous years ratings.

There are many potential curious questions and a plethora of storylines should the Lakers and Nets meet in the Finals this year.

We finally get to see Lebron vs KD in the Finals “Equally Matched” in terms of teammates.

Will Bron guard KD or leave the task up to AD?

Will Kyrie outplay everyone and be named MVP?

Will AD officially be named the Lakers’ best player?

With another ring and Finals MVP will KD be named the NBA’s best player?

The only conflict we should be rooting for is the clash of basketball’s best.