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Brooklyn Nets: 3 reasons they will win the 2020-21 NBA title

By Josh Cornelissen

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - FEBRUARY 09: Kyrie Irving #11 and James Harden #13 of the Brooklyn Nets while playing the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on February 09, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - FEBRUARY 09: Kyrie Irving #11 and James Harden #13 of the Brooklyn Nets while playing the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on February 09, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets
Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

1. No other East star has proven in the playoffs to Kevin Durant’s level

Kevin Durant has been to the NBA Finals four different times, once as the top-dog on the young Oklahoma City Thunder and three times as the co-star with Stephen Curry on the Golden State Warriors. He has won two titles, both coming with well-deserved Finals MVP awards. No other star in the Eastern Conference has proven himself in the playoffs like Durant has.

Because LeBron James tends to soak them up, there are only four active players who have won a Finals MVP award. James and Kawhi Leonard play in Los Angeles in the Western Conference. Andre Iguodala won the award (that probably should have gone to Stephen Curry) in 2015, and while he plays in the Eastern Conference he’s averaging just 21.3 minutes and 4.5 points per game for the Miami Heat.

Durant also leads the pack among players with NBA Finals experience. The leaders of the Toronto Raptors are the only non-Nets stars in the East with titles, but the Raptors are currently 20-31 and clearly not a contender this season. The Miami Heat have experience from their run to the NBA Finals last year, but outside of Iguodala, that amounts to one year in the NBA Bubble.

Kyrie Irving probably has the second-best claim to proven playoff performance, and he’s Durant’s wingman on the Nets. Irving has been to the NBA Finals three times, winning one title alongside LeBron James by hitting the greatest shot of his career over Stephen Curry.

That leaves Kevin Durant the undisputed king of the Eastern Conference playoffs until someone dethrones him. Win the East and you’re four wins away from a title. While the Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers look formidable with their proven stars, they are also far from perfect and dealing with injury issues of their own.

Add all of this together: playoff experience, elite offense and the best player, and it equals a run to the NBA Finals and the best shot of any team at winning a title. Basketball is unpredictable, and anything could happen once the playoffs begin. Yet from our vantage point, a fully healthy Brooklyn Nets team is ready to take on all comers and win the NBA title in 2020-21.

Next. NBA: Ranking every team’s best player in 2020-21. dark

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