Behind the Bucks Pass
Fansided

Milwaukee Bucks: 3 things to watch for in squaring off against Brooklyn Nets

By Jordan Treske

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 06: Spencer Dinwiddie #8 of the Brooklyn Nets drives with the ball in the first half Eric Bledsoe #6 of the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on April 06, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 06: Spencer Dinwiddie #8 of the Brooklyn Nets drives with the ball in the first half Eric Bledsoe #6 of the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on April 06, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 Quinn Harris/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – JANUARY 15: (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JANUARY 15: (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

Uncle Drew’s at it again

The Bucks’ first meeting of the season with the Nets will come against the backdrop of some interesting comments made by Irving following the team’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers back on Wednesday night on national television.

Following their fourth quarter collapse and 11-point loss to the sixth-seeded 76ers, Irving aired out his thoughts on the state of the Nets and the ‘glaring’ needs that need to be addressed to raise the team’s play in order to hang with higher caliber teams, such as the Bucks.

The six-time All-Star did a little damage control internally, but reinforced his comments Friday afternoon following the Nets’ practice as ESPN’s Malika Andrews reported on:

"“I reached out to make sure nothing was taken out of context — making sure that the guys knew exactly what I meant,” Irving said on Friday after practice. “And that is the only thing that matters. Everyone can say, if I was in this position, ‘I would’ve said this, I would’ve done this.’ They have have no idea because they’ve never been at this level, so how could you even comment on it?” He continued: “The most important thing is making sure these guys — they have the belief in themselves and I continue to reiterate that confidence we have as a team. It is going to come down to that in order to be at a championship level to compete against the West, we need more. It is what it is.”"

Irving is obviously no stranger to airing grievances about his team and teammates. And as all Bucks fans are well aware of, the subsequent discord that came about last year led to Milwaukee dismantling last year’s Celtics squad as we knew them in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

The 27-year-old is fresh from returning from a 26-game absence as a result of a right shoulder impingement that didn’t come to light publicly until a couple of weeks ago. And the Nets are 1-2 since Irving returned to the fold, including dropping their last two tilts to the Utah Jazz and the 76ers.

Whether there’s any validity to Irving’s comments or not, history continually tends to repeat itself and this likely won’t be the final instance of Irving bringing his dissatisfaction with the Nets’ direction to the public this season and beyond, should they keep standing in the middle of the rest of the league.

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