Hello, Kevin Durant. Goodbye, James Harden.
One superstar is ready to join the Nets, just as another is heading for a prolonged absence. Indeed, what could be more appropriate with this uneven season?
Durant, who missed the last 23 games with a left hamstring, is “likely” to play alongside Kyrie Irving on Wednesday against the Pelicans. But the Big Three won’t be complete for at least another week, as Harden is eliminated by a straight hamster strain revealed on Tuesday by an MRI examination. It will continue to be disabled and will be re-evaluated in about 10 days, according to the team.
The Nets preached, “There’s still time” for the entire team to be healthy all of a sudden and play before the playoffs at every turn, from the end of February, when Durant’s absence was extended by the NBA All-Day break. Star. He averaged 29 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 19 games and handed the MVP candidate’s torch to Harden.
Seventeen games have been out of the program since then, and messages haven’t changed every time Durant’s schedule has been turned down, or when Irving missed three games for family reasons, or when LaMarcus Aldridge debuted in a line without a Harden injured.
Now, there are 21 games left, Harden, Landry Shamet (ankle sprain) and Tyler Johnson (knee pain) are out, and Blake Griffin (knee) has no plans to play in both games when the back nights are scheduled. at the back.
So here’s the question when it comes to the notion of fully assembled networks, all recovering from injuries and developing chemistry before the playoffs. There is still time?
The best scenario – unlikely, if Durant’s recovery is a measure for Harden’s – is 16 games to be treated as a playoff warm-up program.
“We just hope those guys get some rest, heal strong and come back, and we’re ready to go,” striker Jeff Green said after Harden fell in Tuesday’s victory over the Knicks.
Nets may not have an alternative strategy to “hope” after using 25 different start line combinations and 16 different starters. The longest series of the same starting line is four consecutive games.
“We felt like we were just beginning to realize each other – James, Kyrie, me and different groups on the floor,” Durant said last week about chemistry before his injury. “That worries me more.”
Even when the group is finally healthy, can they stay so long that they find a rhythm before the playoffs start on May 22? With a series of top three in the Eastern Conference, but almost certain, the Nets have a margin of error.
But Harden expressed his urgency before his injury, saying, “It looks good on paper, but we have to get out there and go.”
The Mets’ “hope” for a five-ace dream – Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz and Zack Wheeler – was intact for three rounds of rotation over four seasons.
The Giants ‘hopes for a full complement of offensive players – Saquon Barkley, Darius Slayton, Sterling Shepard, Golden Tate and Evan Engram – manifested for a quarter of a 32-man game played in quarterback Daniel Jones’ first two seasons.
Sometimes it is not meant to be.
“You control what you can control and it’s unfortunate,” said Joe Harris, the Nets shooter.
The Bucks (Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holliday) and 76ers (Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris and Ben Simmons) will not learn each other’s trends in the playoffs. And the Nets distribution to supplement the excessive damage is not suitable to go from foot to foot when competitors shorten their rotations.
Harden, Irving and Durant have played seven games together since joining forces. Harden, Irving and Griffin played three together. Irving, Griffin and Aldridge played together. Harden, Irving and Aldridge held a quarter of a game together. Harden, Irving, Griffin and Aldridge have not played together yet.
The original playoff lineup of Harden, Irving, Aldridge, Durant and Harris did not play a minute together.
The Nets’ cautious approach may be the magic touch, and a completely healthy line needs only a few games to reach the right chord. There is enough pure talent – 41 All-Star career selections – on the list to make the lack of familiarity a debatable point.
“It’s the regular season,” Irving said, “so we do our best to find the motivation to play every game at a high level. … I think we managed to learn a lot about the other. ”
There is much more to learn. Quick.