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Due to a combination of non-public causes, return-from-injury, Well being and Security Protocols, new accidents, relaxation nights, conservative therapy of not-so-serious accidents, the 2021 Brooklyn Nets ran an absolute clinic in load administration. The massive three of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden solely appeared in eight common season video games. It wasn’t a shock when head coach Steve Nash would give the replace that each Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving would out of the lineup final yr.
Some video games coach Nash would even clear his bench to relaxation his starters a couple of minutes well-before the a sport was out of hand, sending a transparent sign to the NBA “we need to be wholesome for the playoffs extra than we wish dwelling court docket benefit.”
One evening that appeared to summarize their strategy final season was an April showdown in in Philadelphia. Harden was out. Durant didn’t costume. Irving was out there however resting on the bench when the Nets’ reserves lower into the Sixers lead. Nash opted to not deliver Kyrie again into an in depth 3 level ballgame with over two minutes remaining. It was an eminently winnable contest however the Nets mainly mentioned “meh, we’d relatively a number of additional minutes of relaxation for Ky than a large one-seed-on-the-line” win.
Quick ahead. It’s a fairly large distinction from this season’s technique to this point. The 2022 Nets appear to be they’re pushing quite a bit more durable than final yr’s group.
It’s onerous to say why precisely the calculus could have modified. Nash has mentioned it will likely be much less “formulaic” this yr. That group a yr in the past anticipated a “large three” at some level. This group, with Irving out doubtlessly all season, could not. So maybe there’s extra motivation to hit the throttle.
Paul Millsap is out for private causes. Nic Claxton is coping with what looks like a relatively critical non-COVID sickness. He hasn’t appeared in a sport since October twenty fifth. Joe Harris is now nursing an ankle problem. So on prime of the sudden adjustment to life with out Irving, the Nets are genuinely short-handed.
Harden was requested, following a 109-99 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, if one thing modified from final season’s load administration technique.
“I don’t suppose it was a change,” mentioned Harden. “I believe it was that you already know if I don’t play or Kevin don’t play it’s like we’re already down numbers. You realize what I imply?”
The ASU legend continued “we simply gotta hold combating man simply discover methods to return away with wins, discover methods to maintain enhancing on each ends of the ball. It’s a protracted season. There’s gonna be a variety of ups and downs however really feel like we’re in somewhat bit in a funk proper now in a way of simply every thing. However you win, hold going. Prepare for Friday.”
Do you are concerned in regards to the minutes including up? “I imply we’ll cope with that later. Proper now we simply hooping.”
“I don’t suppose it was a change, I believe it was that you already know if I don’t play or Kevin don’t play it’s like we’re already down numbers. You realize what I imply?”
Kevin Durant and James Harden each rank prime 10 in whole minutes performed. Harden sounded wiped after 8 video games in 13 nights. pic.twitter.com/Wy7Ca1ZLiI— DaveEarly (@DavidEarly) November 18, 2021
Massive minutes for the large two
Heading into the seventeenth sport of season the Nets star duo each rank prime ten within the league for whole minutes performed. Durant is available in seventh general in minutes performed, having logged 555 in whole. The NBA whole factors chief now, KD is enjoying 34.7 minutes per sport, his highest clip since his 2016 marketing campaign with the Thunder. The common age of the six gamers who’ve logged extra burn than KD is simply 26.3 years-old.
For Harden his gradual ramp-up and inconsistent play has been attributed to his summer season spent rehabbing the grade two hamstring he sustained final season. As a lot as that has been talked about, he hasn’t had any relaxation days but. The Beard, third general in whole assists, ranks tenth within the league in whole minutes performed.
In minutes per sport they rank twenty eighth (Durant at 34.7) and thirty fourth (Harden at 34.4) respectively. The rationale they rank a lot greater in whole minutes performed is as a result of they lately performed a ton of video games. They’ve performed two extra video games than the primary place Wizards. After the latest win Harden sounded fairly wiped.
Instructed he’s performed eight video games in 13 nights he replied “Shhhh, wow I knew we had been enjoying quite a bit however I suppose it’s what they gave us,” mentioned the previous sixth man and former MVP.
If these Nets might talk to last season’s Nets they may say “Irving isn’t coming again, KD is one other yr faraway from his Achilles problem, James feels good and must get his conditioning again, it’s value pushing, we’ll purchase them relaxation later.” And if final yr’s group had the prospect to weigh in they may retort “take it from us, no matter you’re pushing for now isn’t value it when you’re not wholesome and contemporary for the playoffs.”
It’s a stability. However it certain appears just like the the Nets stars might use a relaxation day quickly.
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