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The Brooklyn Nets are in the face of elimination as they head home for Game 3. The Boston Celtics have managed to curb the offense of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Winning both games by close margins, the Celtics are in the commanding position.

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Being up 2-0, they have all the momentum as they take on the road. While Durant has shot the ball very poorly, Michael Jordan’s former teammate, Charles Oakley believes the coaching is the reason for the Nets’ poor run so far.

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With the duo of KD and KAI set in Brooklyn, they produced some gems at the end of the regular season. The two offensive giants are the most powerful attacking duo in the league. With a mixture of both size and skill, they were almost unstoppable. But when matched up against the best defense, the Nets shrunk.

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The Celtics have managed to keep Durant, one of the best offensive players silent all series long. His poor shot-making has cost Brooklyn big time. But Oakley believes there is more.

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In a recent interview, Oakley said he thinks Steve Nash isn’t the right fit as a coach for the Nets. And he is the reason they are failing in the postseason.

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Steve Nash not helping out with Nets and Kevin Durant?

With Boston up 2-0, the Nets are tied in a real tough spot. It will be challenging for them to steal Game 3 at home. However, failing to do so will leave them with an almost impossible task. Similar to last season, the Nets are missing out on an important piece due to injury. Ben Simmons is yet to suit up since coming in, and their defense has felt the toll.

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In addition, Durant has been unable to bring out his usual Slim Reaper. As for Oakley, he believes everyone needs a leader, and Nash isn’t the one for Brooklyn.

Oak said, “The problem with Brooklyn was I don’t know if Nash is the right coach for them. I don’t know. Being a ballplayer watching them, you know, everybody say, ‘well, this and that, if you got Kyrie and KD’ but you still need somebody at that front seat.”

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USA Today via Reuters

Oakley also feels bringing in the Beard was an unnecessary move by the Nets. But, with a swarm of problems, Brooklyn needs a ray of hope. And so far, their star players haven’t produced. As two elite offensive players, both KD and KAI failed to make their mark in GAME 2.

After KAI’s impressive game 1 performance, he managed to score just 10 points. As for KD, he scored 27 points, but the Slim Reaper shot just 4-17 from the floor. This poor efficiency is all due to the Celtics’ tough defense, With DPOY Marcus Smart as the commander, the Celtics have shut down the biggest offensive weapons in basketball.

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If Kevin Durant fails to deliver in Game 3, do you think the Nets have a chance? Let us know in the comments below.

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Anuj Talwalkar

4,503 Articles

Anuj Talwalkar is a senior NBA Newsbreak specialist at EssentiallySports, trusted for his real-time coverage and fast, accurate updates on league developments. With five NBA seasons and two Olympics coverages under his belt, Anuj stands out as the go-to reporter for the NBA Matchday Newsdesk. As part of the EssentiallySports Journalistic Excellence Program, he continuously refines his hard reporting with grounded storytelling shaped by fan culture and court-level insights. An economics graduate and lifelong OKC fan since the Supersonics era, Anuj combines analytical thinking and a genuine passion for basketball. He’s recognized for both his live news coverage and feature writing, with aspirations to someday interview Russell Westbrook. Anuj’s reporting is marked by its reliability, depth, and strong connection to the pulse of the NBA.

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Arunaditya Aima

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