Shams Charania reflects on Brooklyn Nets' surge: “I think this is for the first time in like 4 years... where it's literally been just basketball"

Senior NBA insider Shams Charania has compared the Brooklyn Nets' resurgence to the 2021-22 Boston Celtics turnaround. The Nets were 10-11 to start the season but have improved to 22-12 and placed third in the Eastern Conference.

Nobody expected the Nets to make a turnaround this quick, but since Jacque Vaughn took over the reins from Steve Nash, Brooklyn have looked entirely different. They dealt with plenty of off-court controversies, too. However, they have locked in and turned things around.

Reflecting on the Nets' recent nine-game streak, Charania said (via Fan Duel):

"I think this is for the first time in like 4 years throughout this Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant era where it's literally been just basketball. They've been locked in for the last month or so. Fault me cause it might be too soon, but when I watch this team play it reminds me a lot of the Celtics from last year."

“I think this is for the first time in like 4 years throughout this Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant era where it's literally been just basketball”

@ShamsCharania on Nets gaining confidence on #RunItBack with @MichelleDBeadle @ChandlerParsons @bansky

📺: FanDuel.com/TV https://t.co/AmNTbEoXui

The Boston Celtics entered the 2021-22 season under unpredictable circumstances. Former GM Danny Ainge stepped down while head coach Brad Stevens replaced him. The Celtics then hired rookie coach Ime Udoka to lead them.

The Brooklyn Nets also had an uncertain offseason with speculation about Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant's future with the team. The latter also demanded a trade request, which he later rescinded.

Both teams got off to a sub-par start, hovering around the .500 mark. However, they revived their fortunes with a stellar midseason turnaround, securing momentum by beating weaker opponents.

Charania's assessment of the situation could appear viable even if the timelines aren't the same. It will be interesting to see if the Nets can keep this up and finish the regular season with a solid record.

Brooklyn Nets dominate another rival contender as winning streak extends to nine games

The Brooklyn Nets continued their dominant run with another win, their ninth in a row, when they beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 125-117 on the road on Monday. Brooklyn entered the game with wins over the last two teams to win the championship, the Golden State Warriors and Milwaukee Bucks.

Cleveland was just as difficult as an opponent. Since Donovan Mitchell's addition this offseason, the Cavaliers have looked like legitimate contenders. They had the third-best record in the East (22-12) before they welcomed the Nets on Monday.

However, the Nets remained unfazed and took care of business. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving led the charge from the front, bagging 32 points apiece. They combined to shoot 21-of-27 from the field, including 12-of-19 from three-point range.

Meanwhile, TJ Warren tallied 23 points off the bench. Three other players also registered double-digit scores. The Brooklyn Nets look connected on the defensive end of the floor. Every player on the roster has settled into their roles seamlessly under Vaughn, which has been key to the team's successful run over the last month.