Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons (10) and forward Kevin Durant (7) and guard Kyrie Irving (11) react during the fourth quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Barclays Center. Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Brooklyn Nets move to 4-1 without Kyrie Irving

By Sean Keane | Last updated 11/12/22

On Nov. 3, the 2-6 Nets were in 13th place in the Eastern Conference. Then they suspended Kyrie Irving.

Since then, Brooklyn has had a renaissance, going 4-1 and outscoring opponents by 17.2 points per game. Three of the wins came on the road. In their only defeat, a 96-94 loss to Dallas, Kevin Durant had a chance to tie the game with free throws in the final seconds. Now, they sit in a tie for 8th place in the East, just a game out of fifth.

Where is that improvement coming from? Defense.

Nets without Kyrie:

— 1st in defensive rating
— 1st in net rating

4-1. pic.twitter.com/GMz8tI3iWn
— StatMuse (@statmuse) November 12, 2022

The Nets have also been doing it without getting much from another maximum-contract player, Ben Simmons. He didn't play in the first two Kyrie-free games, and came off the bench in the last three, averaging 18 minutes and just 3.3 points per game. Some of the reduction is due to coming off the bench, but some are from being in near-constant foul trouble — eleven fouls in the last three games.

It's not just the subtraction of Irving but the addition of Seth Curry, who is finally playing near-normal minutes for Brooklyn after recovering from an offseason ankle procedure. He's made 11-22 three-pointers since returning, going 4-4 in the 4th quarter of Saturday's win over the Clippers. Edmond Sumner has replaced Irving as starting point guard and he's 8 for 17 from distance.

Could Brooklyn use Kyrie's scoring? Perhaps, but so far the team fits together better when it's Kevin Durant surrounded by shooters and defenders — Uncle Drew isn't known for his defensive intensity.

ESPN story on suspended guard Kyrie Irving meeting with the Nets, NBA and NBPA in recent days -- and the real possibility that his return to play won't come on the upcoming four-game Western Conference trip: https://t.co/s0I0dMJKza
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 11, 2022

Woj doesn't think Kyrie will return to the team until after the Nets finish their road trip through LA, Sacramento and Portland. Maybe the team is better off without him.

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