All eyes will be on Kyrie Irving during this crucial month. The Nets have won 18 of their last 20 games and have surged to the second seed in the Eastern Conference thanks to their current fantastic run of play. The squad has suffered a significant setback as they try to overtake the Boston Celtics and secure the top spot.

MVP candidate Kevin Durant injured his knee after a collision with Jimmy Butler in the Nets’ win over the Miami Heat. There’s a lot of concern over KD’s health and how much time he will end up missing. The burden of continuing the Nets’ success will fall on Kyrie Irving, who has emphasized the need for the Nets to not dwell on losing KD and just move forward.

Kyrie when asked about KD potentially missing time:

"We don't have any time for any excuses. We just have to keep moving forward."

— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) January 9, 2023

Excuses won’t help the Nets but missing KD is not what they need. His play has been sensational this season but Irving is also in a great patch of form right now. If he can stay locked in and carry the Nets through the next month or so, the team will be way more secure in terms of holding on to a top-4 seed.

The Month That Decides Kyrie Irving’s Future

Kyrie Irving is set to be the most valuable free agent available next season, as teams with cap space like the Los Angeles Lakers will be looking to swoop in and sign him. The Nets chose to not sign Irving to a max contract extension, but Kyrie can play his way into that contract now.

Irving has been unreliable his entire tenure with the Nets. This is the time he proves to the organization that he is reliabl

e and can carry the team without KD. If he excels on the court with KD out and elevates his play to that of the best point guard in the NBA, the Nets will have no choice but to re-sign him instead of letting him leave for free.

Source: fadeawayworld.net