[brid autoplay=”true” video=”751581″ player=”23231″ title=”What%20Separates%20Kevin%20Durant%20and%20the%20Nets%20from%20LeBron%20James%20and%20the%20Lakers” duration=”92″ description=”Carolyn Manno asks Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix to preview a hypothetical NBA Finals series between the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angles Lakers. Mannix predicts a battle of the stars. ” uploaddate=”2021-04-09″ thumbnailurl=”//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/thumb/751581_t_1617611028.png” contentUrl=”//cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/sd/751581.mp4″]
The Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers are the two best teams in the Eastern Conference. After just returning from injury, Kevin Durant could be a major part of their rivalry moving forward into the playoffs.
While Durant was not active for Wednesday’s marquee matchup between the Nets and 76ers in Philadelphia due to rest, he heard his name called by fans in the City of Brotherly Love on more than one occasion.
It really was something to behold. Fans on hand at the Wells Fargo Center opted to chant out “KD sucks” as 76ers center Joel Embiid was shooting free throws late in the game. This is actually a thing that happened in 2021.
When he was a member of the Golden State Warriors during their three consecutive NBA Finals runs late last decade, Kevin Durant was public enemy No. 1. Right now, we’re not sure where this hostility comes from in Philadelphia. Then again, do fans in that city need a reason to be hostile?
As it is, the 76ers and Nets entered Wednesday’s clash with matching 37-17 records and tied for the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Philly came out on top by the score of 123-117 days after Ben Simmons threw some shade in the direction of the Nets.
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“Rivalry? I mean, if they (the Nets) keep that same team, definitely, but it’s going to be hard to do that. We’re going for the past champs — the Lakers,” Simmons told reporters earlier in the week. “They were the ones who won the championship, so you’ve got to give respect to them.”
How fun would an Eastern Conference Finals matchup between these two rivals be? Oh, and we’re also pretty darn sure Kevin Durant won’t be forgetting those chants any time soon. He’s about as petty as it gets.