The strongest offensive three giants in the Nets history did not win the championship, but they were really unlucky

On June 3, in the history of the NBA, the Big Three combination often carries the unlimited expectations of fans, and the super offensive combination of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving created by the Brooklyn Nets in the 2020-2021 season is undoubtedly one of the most talented offensive three giants in league history. However, this team, which was highly anticipated, failed to win the O'Brien Cup, and injuries became the most ruthless obstacle on their way to winning the championship. This journey full of regrets not only made fans sigh, but also became a classic case of the "if" series in NBA history.

**Talent overflow: Historic offensive firepower**

When the Nets got Harden through a trade in early 2021, the league was shocked. Durant has just recovered from a serious Achilles tendon injury last season and has shown his peak state; Irving is one of the deadliest singles in the league; Harden is the scoring champion and MVP-level ball-holding core for three consecutive years. The technical characteristics of the three players are perfectly complementary: Durant's indiscriminate mid- and long-distance shooting, Irving's gorgeous breakthrough and key ball ability, Harden's organization and step-back three-pointers once soared to the forefront of history. Data shows that in the games where the three players played at the same time, the Nets averaged more than 120 points per game, with an offensive efficiency of 118.7, even surpassing the peak data of the Warriors' "Death Five Smalls". The then coach Steve Nash's "giving the ball to the genius" tactic has portrayed superstar basketball to the extreme.

**Turn of fate: a series of blows of injuries**

However, the three giants have very little time to merge. During the regular season, Durant missed 23 games due to a hamstring injury, Irving missed 20 games due to personal reasons and ankle problems, and Harden suffered a hamstring strain shortly after joining. Entering the playoffs and easily defeating the Celtics in the first round, the second round of the series against the Bucks became the starting point of the tragedy. Irving was placing his foot when an Antetokounmpo made a layup in G4, causing a serious sprain in his right ankle and was directly reimbursed for the season; Harden's condition plummeted after returning with an injury, and his movement speed was significantly limited. In the end, Durant scored 48 points in the tiebreak and hit the key draw (unfortunately, it turned into two points), but failed to create a miracle due to exhaustion of physical strength in overtime. The Nets stopped in the Eastern Conference semi-finals, and the Bucks' subsequent championship journey made fans sigh, "If Irving is not injured..."

**In-depth analysis: hidden worries beyond luck**

Although injuries are the direct cause, the Nets' failure still has deeper problems. First of all, the team has hollowed out the rotation lineup to form the Big Three. They can only rely on veterans Griffin and Brown in the playoffs, and their defensive efficiency is only third from the bottom of the team in the playoffs. Secondly, Nash lacks tactical response and over-reliance on singles makes it easy to be targeted at critical moments. In addition, the compatibility of the Big Three is overestimated - Harden needs to hold the ball, Irving prefers singles, and Durant can be without the ball, but his efficiency decreases. The locker room problem gradually emerged: Irving's identity as a "part-time player" and Harden's doubts about the team's future eventually prompted him to transfer 76ers the following year. These factors together show that the Nets are not "just missing luck", but exposing the vulnerability of superstar basketball.

**Echoes of history: A brief and brilliant revelation**

The short-lived appearance of the Nets' Big Three has become a typical case of the formation of super teams in the modern NBA. The league has since emphasized the depth of the lineup and health management. For example, the Nuggets' championship in 2023 relies on the balanced configuration of Jokic + Murray + Gordon. For Durant, Harden and Irving, this cooperation has become a turning point in his career: Durant chose to stick to it but never broke through the East again, Harden started the wandering mode, and Irving was controversial due to off-court storms. Perhaps as Durant said: "We saw the ceiling, but we didn't have the chance to touch it." In addition to those amazing offensive highlights, the legacy of this Nets also reminds the world that winning the championship requires talent, and the right time, place, and people.

Today, when fans discuss "the strongest uncrowd team in history", the Big Three of the Nets in 2021 will always be mentioned. Their story is the most cruel "if" in the basketball world, and it is also an eternal footnote to the coexistence of the charm and cruelty of competitive sports.