Stephen A. Smith more excited about Knicks than Nets: ‘There’s some trouble in Brooklyn’

One New York-based NBA franchise has won four of its last five games. Oddly enough, the other has lost four of its last five. If things were going according to plan for Brooklyn, this wouldn’t be worth pointing out — but things aren’t going well for the Nets, who are now 3-4 heading into Tuesday’s game against the Utah Jazz.

Spencer Dinwiddie likely won’t play again this season. Kevin Durant will miss Brooklyn’s next four games, at minimum, because of COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Everyone wants to know why DeAndre Jordan is still starting over Jarrett Allen. The defense has struggled. The list goes on.

Stephen A. Smith actually pointed out another issue when comparing the Nets and the red-hot New York Knicks on ESPN’s First Take, subtly criticizing Kyrie Irving.

“I see Kyrie shooting more shots than KD. I see Kyrie shooting definitely more in the fourth quarter than KD. And I see a team that’s struggling defensively, and we’ve got analysts — not me, not me — but we’ve got others that have called the Nets soft. Plus, you ain’t gonna have Spencer Dinwiddie. Now, you still have Caris LeVert, ’cause brotha can play. Him, with Kyrie and KD, is a lot to love. But the bottom line is: there’s some trouble in Brooklyn.

Smith continued, explaining that expectations for both the Nets and Knicks could impact the perception of their respective 2020-21 campaigns.

“So it’s entirely plausible, it’s entirely plausible that the Brooklyn Nets can win 45-plus games out of the 72-game regular season, go to the postseason and still have a disappointing year ’cause they didn’t go to the finals,” Smith added.

As long as Durant and Irving can stay healthy, something says this rant won’t age well. Let’s be generous and give the Knicks until the midway point of the season.