Progress is impossible without change 🏀⛹🏾‍♂️🏆

The NBA season is finally back in action. Some players completed their first games on new teams last night. Others missed out on their 2021 season opener due to injury or other circumstances. NBA fans are thrilled to finally have the regular season upon us, no matter which players saw minutes and who did not yesterday. There were several huge matchups to begin the season. Teams like the Bucks showed they are business as usual and ready for another possible championship run. Meanwhile, other squads such as the Lakers and Nets were topped by their opponents.

It’s your boy @daltono back to talk some more #basketball here on @dunksocial. If you aren’t already active in this community, #dunksocial is the premiere place to talk anything #hoops here on #hive. I invite you to share your own opinions about this NBA season that is finally underway. Or, if you just want to read, maybe leave a comment on this post and join the discussion that way.

Without further ado, let’s talk about the status of Kyrie Irving and Russell Westbrook for the 2021-22 season.

From Russ to dust 👍🆚👎🏻

Russell Westbrook is very well known for his consistent triple double performances. His first regular season game with the Lakers was the furthest thing from that. He was held to a measly 8 PTS and shot terribly, going 4-13 from the floor. This was the first time in well over 100 games that Russ had less than 10 points. You could tell by his post-game reaction that he was extremely dissatisfied with his performance and the fact that his Lakers fell to the Golden State Warriors 121-114 in their opener.

Despite this tough loss, I believe that Russ is still an MVP-caliber baller. LeBron and AD both had over 30 PTS and were the highlights for the Laker team last night. It wasn’t enough to keep up with the consistency at the line from the Warriors. Westbrook still has a long season to grow accustomed to playing with the Lakers. I foresee him taking a lot of the pressure off of LeBron and AD once he finds his groove. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if Russ becomes the leading scorer on the Lakers. That’s as long as winning a championship remains this team’s focus, rather than having record-breaking stats individually.

Don’t forget that the Lakers are Westbrook’s 4th team in 4 years. He’s surely used to learning to play with a new group of guys by now. It’s been quite awhile since he’s been surrounded by several other superstars though, so adjusting the spotlight accordingly may take a moment. Give this man some time and trust me he will begin to shine bright once more. This guy wants his first championship so badly, otherwise he would not have elected to squad up with LeBron and AD out in LA.

No shot, no jumper 💉😷🙅🏾‍♂️

Now we move on to a much sticker situation. I honestly have no idea how this is going to play out for Kyrie Irving. So far things are looking pretty ugly. As of right now, Kyrie is the only NBA player that has been told that he cannot play until he gets the COVID vaccination. It is not the NBA that is telling him this, but the place his Nets call home. The vaccination mandate in NYC affects the Brooklyn Nets in a big way. Without submitting to the draconian, forced medical procedures, Kyrie will remain ineligible for both practices and games.

I respect Kyrie so much for this firm stance. Not because I think the vaccination is good or bad, but because he is refusing to let the big guys tell him what to do with his body. If he keeps this up, he’s on pace to miss out on 20 million dollars. Sure he’s most likely made enough money to retire for life already, but can we ever truly have enough? This guy is doing something that no other player has been willing to do. Virtually none of the analysts in the media agree with his decision, which has turned Kyrie into a villain of sorts. Let’s hope he does not become a martyr for stricter NBA regulations to be introduced.

Surely we all miss Kyrie being on the floor. Fans were excited to see Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving finally have a full season together. Lucky for the Nets, they still have tremendous talent to go along with their dynamic duo of Durant and Harden — players like Blake Griffin, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Paul Millsap just to name a few. Even with a solid team otherwise, it’s painful to think that Brooklyn could also have Kyrie to be the team’s playmaker at point guard. It looks like Patty Mills will have to do for now.

Brooklyn’s season opener against the reigning NBA champs did not go as planned. The Bucks dominated the game and came out victorious with a final score of 127-104. The Nets, much like the Lakers, have a long season ahead to get things in order. I think both teams have a great chance of going deep into the playoffs this year. The question remains, will Kyrie Irving see any minutes at all this season? Or will this man remain accosted until he bends the knee?

What do you think? 🤔🗣

Will Russell Westbrook find a way to regain his former dominance and win his first championship? Or are the Lakers an improper fit for his style of play?

Does Kyrie Irving have any chance at all of playing in the NBA this season without getting vaccinated? Or must he obey NYC’s strict orders and follow the rest of the herd?

Leave a comment below and let’s talk about these two players. There surely is much to discuss about both situations.

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