Kevin Durant has nearly missed a whole month with a “mild” calf strain, one the Golden State Warriors have monitored with extreme caution during these NBA Finals.

The defending champions now find themselves down 2-1 in the series, losing the home-court advantage they gained when they took Game 2 on the road. Having missed Durant for the last eight playoff games, his return would be that of a superhero, prompting Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated to ask one of his close friends if Durant would wear a superhero cape in Game 4, if cleared to return.  The response:

“He needs a calf. Not a cape.”

Durant will first have to go through three-on-three and five-on-five full-contact work before being cleared to rejoin his teammates, making Thursday a key day for the organization, as it could shape the fate of the rest of the series.

The Warriors will have Klay Thompson back for Game 4 of the NBA Finals, making Durant the missing ingredient to tilt the balance of this series and allow the Warriors to counterpunch after losing two of the first three games of the series.

Much like his friend said, Durant doesn't need to be a superhero, but rather just a healthy hero who can take some of the stress off a roster full of weary legs and injured bodies.

If Durant is active for Game 4, it would make the Warriors' margin for error greater, allowing for more freedom and a go-to weapon for the remainder of the series.