Brooklyn Nets are hanging on

No doubt, something Kyrie Irving did ticked off Kevin Durant.

No doubt, this was easy to figure out, so instead of heading for the elevated train in Brooklyn, finding space to park his 6-foot-10, 33-year-old body, and getting off at the last stop in Coney Island to watch the Cyclone rollercoaster ride, walk along the beach, and maybe even sign autographs in front of the Brooklyn Cyclones baseball park, he found a usual way to respond.

He stormed into the Brooklyn Nets pro basketball office, blocked some stunned employees and demanded a trade. Oh, almost forgot, he wanted only to speak with the owner. This, only days after he expressed his opinion that whatever Irving wanted to do was up to him, that it’s his livelihood, except that he probably disagreed with his now-and-then teammate on opting for the one-year contract.

Meanwhile, the unthinkable Irving, with his no vaccine refusals no longer a factor, appeared confident with his decision, but then again, he’s in his own world, leave or stay, so he signed for the 2022-23 season thinking it would be accepted by Durant. So after feeling bad after Durant deserved a better cast of once was himself, James Harden and Irving, at least Durant would be back in the same lineup with the dazzling 6-2 Irving.

Of course Irving, who hails from New Jersey and adopted the Nets as his favorite pro team, would make you think he made his mark at Duke, but he didn’t, he arrived there his freshman year after a star-studded high school career, came away with a season-ending injury in pre-season practice, remained at Duke, but hardly attended classes. Why? Well, who needed getting grades in the classrooms when reaming injury free, he would become one of the top draft picks in the NBA draft.

Done deal, so he was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers and played there before being dealt to the Boston Celtics and winning an NBA championship. When he wound up with the Nets, he heard the chants and boos whenever he played in Boston. His plan was to shrug them off and get off his own personal language that included everything but the Boston tea party.

That’s not how you get the support you once had playing in bean town.

But as it appears now, the Nets and their fans are heading for a complete downfall. What was a neat list that hung from the rafters at Barkclay Center — would have, could have, should have — has fallen to the streets outside on Flatbush Avenue.

Harden was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers in return for Ben Simmons and the latter had yet to play a game wearing a Nets uniform. Who knows if he ever will. Meanwhile, Harden as usual, played for another team where his defense in the post-season again slam-dunked his versatility on offense. Who knows if Philly wants to retain him, but everywhere he’s gone, he has been unhappy and requested to be traded, the last time with the Houston Rockets when he got his way and sent to Brooklyn.

Long story cut short, he’s no longer playing down the Jersey Turnpike, Irving just signed on to a questionable one year contract, and Durant, as we have learned, wants to go elsewhere. The once terrific trio Nets have been cut down, sliced up, and once favored to win the NBA title, are destined to perhaps falling to the cellar.

No way connected to the woes of the rivals who play at the Mecca of arenas in Manhattan. They have been speaking about making some big deals, bringing in a quality point guard, but it’s always big deals to the Knicks that turn out to be not so. So let’s leave it where it is now, the Nets in one borough and the Knicks in another.

One thing is certain, Harden, Durant and Irving will not wind us as teammates in Madison Square Garden. Where will they be when the new season bounces in is anybody’s guess that won’t be settled in Coney Island. Presently, Irving and Durant, who is in year two of a 4-year expansion, are still property of the borough that hasn’t had a world champion since the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1957 won over the Bronx team in pinstripes.

If I didn’t mention it before, I was born and raised in the borough known for trees and churches. Now the baseball Mets are ahead of the National League East pack that was once 12 and one-half games ahead of the second place, defending World Series champion Atlanta Braves, but that lead has dwindled to a low pf three games. But the return of Cy Young Award winners Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom could provide a big lift.

Otherwise, the starters have very good or very bad. There have been formidable starts by right-hander Chris Bassitt, right-hander Carlos Carrasco, right-hander Taijuan Walker, and lone southpaw Dave Peterson, but injuries to quality righty Tylor Megill has been damaging. Currently, Carrasco and Bassitt have been in a slump.

The bullpen has been strengthened by right-hander Edwin Diaz having his finest season as a Met, veteran righty Seth Lugo has been steady, as has Adan Ottavino and southpaw Joely Rodriguez, but lately, left-hander Chris Shreve and righty Drew Smith have been non-affective, plus also on the injury list are relievers Trevor May, Jake Reed and Sean Reid-Foley.

That and improving the lineup. Only Pete Alonso is swinging the big bat with a current 22 home runs and 60 RBI that lead the NL. He and right-fielder defensive standout Starling Marte are a good bet to land in the All-Star game. Center-fielder Brandon Nimmo has also played well in the field and as the lead-off batter, shortstop Francisco Lendor has improved over the last two seasons with his hitting while still making remarkable plays in the field.

Can’t count out Jeff McNeil, who plays second or left field, and is having a much-improved campaign at the plate. Third baseman Eduardo Escarbor has had difficulty not striking out, but has played well on defense and featuring a strong arm. Alonso has become very good playing first base, smart, fine at taking throws and tough grounders  and always providing the leadership.

Marc Canha has been a capable left fielder and good at getting on base and taking the extra base, Luis Guillorme has come up with clutch hits, run the bases well, and is a good infielder at either position, but behind the plate forget about it. Tomas NIdo has been up-and-down as a hitter and James McCann has been about the same. Here, their best prospect is 20-year-old catcher Francisco Alvarez now at double A where he’s clouted 20 home runs, knocked in his share of runs, and is hitting .328.

Fill in J.D. Davis has sunk to lower levels, as in contributing an occasional hit, Dominick Smith, who plays first and left field when not the DH, was sent down to Triple A Syracuse for lack of hitting that includes not a single home run this season, and upon returning, has still learned how to swing at better pitches, as in not whiffing at balls in the dirt or way outside or ones he had to back away from, and belongs back at Syracuse.

But while the Braves have put together a 21-5 record in June, they have played a softer schedule than the Mets, the teams have yet to face each other, and if New York can rely on the hoped-for one-two mound punch of Scherzer and deGrom, can be right up there. It is a game ahead of the West’s Los Angeles Dodgers and did have a good 5-5 trip to the West Coast last month, so it’s difficult to panic when the All-Star game is still weeks away.