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Hi there, Kevin Durant. Goodbye, James Harden.
One celebrity is about to rejoin the Nets simply as one other is headed to an prolonged harm absence. Actually, what might be extra becoming of this disjointed season?
Durant, who has missed the previous 23 video games with a left hamstring pressure, is “possible” to play alongside Kyrie Irving on Wednesday in opposition to the Pelicans. However the Large Three gained’t be complete for a minimum of one other week as a result of Harden is sidelined with a right hamstring strain revealed Tuesday by an MRI examination. He’ll proceed to rehab and be re-evaluated in about 10 days, in accordance with the group.
The Nets have preached, “There’s nonetheless time” for the total group to be wholesome directly and jell earlier than the playoffs at each flip since late February, when Durant’s absence was prolonged by way of the NBA All-Star break. He averaged 29 factors, 7.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 19 video games and handed off the MVP candidate torch to Harden.
Seventeen video games have come off the schedule since then, and the messaging didn’t change each time Durant’s timetable was pushed again, or when Irving missed three video games resulting from household causes, or when LaMarcus Aldridge debuted in a lineup with out an injured Harden.
Now, there are 21 video games remaining, Harden, Landry Shamet (ankle sprain) and Tyler Johnson (knee soreness) are out, and Blake Griffin (knee) isn’t planning to play in each video games when scheduled back-to-back nights.
So, right here’s the query to ask on the subject of the notion of the absolutely assembled Nets all recovering from accidents and creating chemistry earlier than the playoffs. Is there nonetheless time?
The perfect-case state of affairs — unlikely, if Durant’s restoration is any measure for Harden’s — is 16 video games to deal with like a playoffs warm-up schedule.
“Simply hope these guys relaxation up, heal up sturdy and so they come again and we’re able to go,” ahead Jeff Inexperienced mentioned after Harden went down in Tuesday’s win in opposition to the Knicks.
The Nets may not have an alternate technique to “hope” after utilizing 25 completely different beginning lineup combos and 16 completely different starters. The longest streak of the identical beginning lineup is 4 straight video games.
“I felt like we had been simply beginning to determine one another out — James, Kyrie, myself and completely different lineups on the ground,” Durant mentioned final week of the chemistry earlier than his harm. “That’s extra so what I’m involved about.”
Even when the group is lastly all wholesome, can they continue to be so lengthy sufficient to discover a rhythm earlier than the playoffs start on Might 22? With a top-three seed within the Japanese Convention all however safe, the Nets have margin for error.
However Harden expressed an urgency earlier than his harm, saying, “On paper it appears good, however we’ve bought to truly get on the market and get going.”
The Mets’ “hope” for a dream of 5 aces — Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz and Zack Wheeler — was intact for 3 turns by way of the rotation over 4 seasons.
The Giants’ hope for a full complement of offensive playmakers — Saquon Barkley, Darius Slayton, Sterling Shepard, Golden Tate and Evan Engram — manifested for one quarter of 1 recreation of the 32 performed throughout quarterback Daniel Jones’ first two seasons.
Typically, it’s not meant to be.
“You management what you may management, and it’s unlucky,” Nets sharpshooter Joe Harris mentioned.
The nucleuses of the Bucks (Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holliday) and 76ers (Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris and Ben Simmons) gained’t be studying one another’s on-court tendencies within the playoffs. And the Nets’ forged of overachieving harm fill-ins aren’t any match to go toe-for-toe when contenders shorten their rotations.
Harden, Irving and Durant have performed seven video games collectively since becoming a member of forces. Harden, Irving and Griffin have performed three collectively. Irving, Griffin and Aldridge have performed one collectively. Harden, Irving and Aldridge lasted one quarter of 1 recreation collectively. Harden, Irving, Griffin and Aldridge haven’t performed collectively but.
A projected playoff beginning lineup of Harden, Irving, Aldridge, Durant and Harris has not performed a minute collectively.
It’s doable the Nets’ cautious method is the magic contact and a completely wholesome lineup wants just some video games to strike the fitting chord. There’s sufficient pure expertise — 41 profession All-Star alternatives — on the roster to render the shortage of familiarity a moot level.
“It’s the common season,” Irving mentioned, “so we do the most effective we are able to to find some motivation to play each recreation at a excessive degree. … I feel we’ve been capable of be taught rather a lot about each other.”
There’s extra to be taught. Shortly.
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