In one of the strings of comments, a poster compared the Brooklyn Nets, this season, to a popular reality show franchise, the Real Housewives, specifically. My apologies for not remembering exactly who it was. That concept is absolutely spot on for this team. As we all know, "reality" shows are simply an unscripted, hyped-up excuse to show attractive, possibly famous people with no scruples doing stupid, shady things to other attractive, possibly famous people with no scruples who, themselves, are happy to do the same crap, as well.

Of course, reality is the construct that allows most of us to exist and carry on in the physical world while interacting with others. This is a necessity, given the reliance each of us has on others to continue our physical existence. Most of us accept that physical phenomena such as gravity, air and other assorted scientifically documented things impact our real world. This leads to our reliance on things like cars, computers, food and even the internet. These are examples of our shared reality.

Why am I harping on this reality tip? Because I feel as if I am in a Star Trek episode - pick any franchise - where I am forced to question reality. For context, I draw the reader's attention to the Billy King era. As thrilled as many of us were to cheer for that version of the team, it ultimately proved to be pyrite, or fool's gold. However, we accepted the reality of that team. We never questioned the dedication of the players to their craft and to winning. (Well, maybe Deron Williams) That team was ultimately a poorly constructed team with talent that had reached its sell-by date, but we could cheer for that team, in our shared reality.

Then came the Sean Marks/Kenny Atkinson era. We hit rock bottom and had to eventually say farewell to the longest tenured Net in franchise history, as well as its most prolific scorer, Brook Lopez. However, from out of the ashes arose the phoenix of the late Kenny Atkinson years which, surprisingly morphed into the KD/Kyrie years. In the Star Trek episode, this is where the break with reality would occur. I remember where I was and what I was doing when I learned the news that they were both coming to Brooklyn. Somehow, it didn't seem real.

Ever since, we have been existing in this not-quite-reality state as fans. James Harden came to the team and most of us thought we had died and gone to heaven (who knows if that is real) because we now had the most talented "big three" since, well, you can name your own version of that. However, Harden's hamstring would snap us back to this mortal coil. Then came Giannis with his size just big enough feet to cause injury to Kyrie, further puncturing our state of unreality. Then came KD and his size just too big feet to bring us all the way back to cold, hard reality.

Now, we have possibly the most talented group of players ever assembled in Nets uniforms, yet we are saddled with a 1-5 record to start the season. Granted the first five teams we played were all playoff participants last season and project to be so this season. Yet, despite the enormous amount of talent on this roster, we are in what many would describe as the opposite of heaven (who knows if that is real) because we are saddled with two stars who don't seem to accept reality.

Kyrie Irving will not accept the reality of his responsibility for promoting hate speech and instead clowns us by claiming he is on a seemingly never-ending journey of learning. That quest always takes pit stops in the most disgusting and seediest parts of any town he finds. Kevin Durant insists on having us believe that no one in that locker room hears any of the "noise" generated by Kyrie's immoral and abominable activity. In tandem, the two of them are essentially pulling a "Wizard of Oz" by telling us don't believe what you perceive as reality. Rather, listen to what we are telling you is reality. It is an attempt to make us believe something that is not, in fact, real,

One has to wonder if we will be asked to continue to accept this alternative to reality. Watching the Nets this season, thus far, has felt like we are watching a hyped-up version of reality to include attractive, possibly famous people with no scruples doing stupid, shady things. However, in this show, it's the fans who are the victims of the attractive, possibly famous people with no scruples. I hope we can all find some way to get back to reality.