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Nearly halfway into the 2021-22 season, unvaccinated guard Kyrie Irving finally is expected to play Wednesday night in Indiana for the suddenly slumping Nets.
It would be the seven-time All-Star’s first NBA appearance since leaving Game 4 of the playoffs last June against Milwaukee with an ankle injury that sidelined him for the remainder of that second-round series.
But it’s not like Irving is back for good, however, as he’s still ineligible to participate in home games and select road games due to COVID-19 vaccination regulations in New York and other cities.
There currently are 22 road games remaining on the Nets’ schedule in which Irving will be able to participate. The Nets are tied with the Jazz for the NBA’s best road record this season at 13-3, compared to a middling 10-9 mark at Barclays Center.
Here are five things to look for Wednesday night, assuming Irving – who no longer is listed on the NBA’s official injury report — makes his season debut:
For Starters
Irving presumably will regain his place in the starting lineup ahead of Patty Mills, who was blanked Monday night against the Grizzlies, including 0-for-5 from long distance, after mostly filling in capably since Joe Harris underwent ankle surgery in late November.
Irving, of course, is among the most uniquely gifted players in the league. Last season, for instance, he became only the fourth NBA player in history to average at least 25 points in a season (26.9) while shooting at least 50 percent from the floor (50.6), at least 40 percent from 3-point range (40.2) and at least 90 percent from the free-throw line (92.2).
Rust Removal
Irving was able to attend training camp with the Nets in San Diego in September, but he didn’t even appear in any preseason games due to the various COVID restrictions and the Nets’ initial decision to not allow him to be a part-time player appearing only in road games.
It will be fascinating to see how quickly the ball-handling wiz can reestablish the sharpness in his game, especially after Nets coach Steve Nash indicated that he’s looked “great” and “very gifted” since rejoining his teammates in practice in recent weeks.
Chemistry Class
Wednesday would mark the first time Brooklyn’s Big 3 of Irving, Kevin Durant and James Harden are on the court together since Harden pulled his hamstring early in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semis against the Bucks. Harden returned after Irving departed in that series. Remember, the superstar trio only appeared in only eight games together during an injury-plagued regular season in 2020-21.
Irving obviously also has yet to appear in a game this season with newcomers such as Mills, James Johnson, DeAndre Bembry, Jevon Carter and the team’s contingent of rookies, including Cam Thomas.
Irving might spark a turnaround from the team’s three-game losing streak, but his infusion into the rotation might not take immediately. As Nash noted Monday night, the Nets still need to improve at the defensive end — and especially on the glass — to reverse their recent skid.
The Road to Condition
For those reasons, it will be interesting to see if Nash keeps Irving on a minutes restriction to start, especially since he won’t be eligible to play again until a makeup game Jan. 10 in Portland and a visit to the Bulls, who’ve taken over the top spot from the Nets in the Eastern Conference, two nights later.
Emotional Rescue
From a team psyche perspective, Irving’s return could go either way. His teammates have supported him publicly throughout his COVID exile, and they clearly are welcoming the prospect of having back with them, even on a part-time basis. But all of this remains an uncharted-waters scenario, especially within the organization’s stated championship-or-bust construct.
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