‘Going to Be a Lot of Pressure’: NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas Issues Warning to Brooklyn Nets

The Brooklyn Nets have surely become a championship contender after bringing in superstar James Harden to their side. The big three of Harden, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant have made the Nets the scariest side in the Eastern Conference, if not in the NBA.

The Big Three had a shaky start with two successive losses against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Since those two losses, they have had four successive victories.

Their defense remains a major headache amidst their explosive offensive prowess. They are currently ranked 23rd in their defensive efficiency. If this continues, it is a cause of major concern for a team aiming for a championship.

Hall of Famer guard Isiah Thomas also thinks the same. The former Pistons guard recently spoke on the Max Kellerman show and said how this team is similar to that of the OKC Thunder.

“There’s only been one other time where you had something that was similar to this. And that was when they were all in OKC.”

The 2-time Champion also talked about how dangerous this big three looks on paper.

“What we’re talking about today, in terms of Durant, Harden, and now Kyrie Irving to go out on the perimeter, I don’t know if there’s ever been three dynamic perimeter players on the same team at this level ever in the history of the game with the exception of OKC.”

Thomas also talked about how important defense will be for their championship ambitions.

“I come from that school where defense wins championships, because although you can be great offensively, but if they don’t get their act together defensively, they’re not going to have the type of success that we all know they can have.”

The Nets clearly lack some depth in their side and will be looking to add some players before the trade deadline. Can the Nets pull off some moves and make this team better on the defensive end?

Isiah Thomas says most pressure is on the Brooklyn Nets’ coaching staff

The Brooklyn Nets had assembled a super team even before the James Harden trade. The biggest head scratcher was the appointment of Steve Nash as the head coach for the team.

Nash, prior to this season, did not have any experience as a head coach or even as an assistant coach for any team. The coaching staff has been decent so far in building a system for the Big Three, but defensively, they still haven’t figured it out.

Isiah Thomas also spoke about how important the coaching staff will be in making the Nets defense work. He said, “Well, Brooklyn does have a chance, if they decided to defend it. And this is where the coaching comes in.”

He added, “Can you put a defensive game plan in that your team is going to buy in and going to be inspired and motivated to play on both ends of the floor? And you know, the great, the great players. That’s why they always seek out, you know, the great coaches, because they they do want to be challenged on both sides of the ball. They do want to reach their potential.”

He continued, “So it’s going to be a lot of pressure on their coaching staff from Brooklyn that I’m seeing right now. But defensively they got to get their act together because nobody questions what’s going on offensively.”

The Nets have looked unstoppable offensively. Can Irving, Harden, and KD put the same effort on the defensive end? If they don’t, they might lose even after crossing the 120 mark consistently.