The Brooklyn Nets went 5-16 in Kevin Durant's absence. He hasn't appeared in a game since Jan. 15. While he was away, the team suffered a grueling 11 game slide. And ahead of his much-awaited return, (seriously it feels like forever ago given all that's happened with the Ben Simmons-James Harden trade) they've won just 3 of their last 18 games.
KD told reporters at Nets' shoot around what it was like being away from the squad while he rehabbed.
Here are three things to watch for in Kevin Durant's Nets' return vs. Jimmy Butler, and the first place Miami Heat.
Kevin Durant Return Game
3) Look for KD to ease his way back into game shape
Look for Durant to be fairly careful. At this point in his historic career, he knows there is only one goal: championship. And he knows if he suffers any setbacks while trying to return to the court it could derail the whole season. The 8th place Nets are three games behind the 7th place Raptors. They can't afford to do much more sliding. And the best way for them to make a late-season surge would not be to go all-out in his return but to make sure he's back for good.
Back in 2017, KD actually sustained an MCL injury too. He missed five weeks back in 2017, and in his first game back he dropped 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 dimes. He went just 6 of 15 from the floor, not quite finding his rhythm back, but the Golden State Warriors won easily.
Last we saw KD ,he was a machine, averaging nearly 30 points per game. We think he won't instantly step back into that type of workload offensively. Interim head coach Jacque Vaughn may even have him on some type of minutes restriction, since the franchise has been careful with him in the past.
2) Durant will play some decoy and facilitate for new teammates
This is an offshoot to the previous point. Since Durant likely won't put too much pressure on himself to carry a shorthanded team to victory over a first-place Heat team (that has looked like the best in the East so far this season) we think he'll use some of this game to play decoy and set up new teammates.
KD has played with Patty Mills, LaMarcus Aldridge, Cam Thomas and others. He's yet to play with the team's newest available members Seth Curry and Andre Drummond. Drummond is a game time decision so we'll keep an eye on that. We think he'll focus on developing a little bit of in-game chemistry with them.
Coach Vaughn, filling in for Steve Nash (health and safety protocols) has urged his team to take a process-oriented approach over the last few days.
Vaughn wants them to play their very best basketball, and not burden themselves with the result; especially playing so short-handed. It would be easy to play good basketball yet be outplayed anyway then become discouraged.
They'll be without Kyrie Irving since this game is in Brooklyn, without Ben Simmons, who recently suffered a back flare up, and without Joe Harris, who has been out since Nov. with an ankle injury, that may need more surgery.
KD had 6 dimes in his return from an MCL sprain back in 2017. It wouldn't be a shock if he matched that mark tonight, while throwing a couple of them to this guy:
1) Just enjoying a few contested hesi-pull up jimbos
One day, hopefully far away, when KD hangs it up, people will talk about the greatest scorers in NBA history. And inevitably, the conversation will turn to Durant and one of Slim Reaper's most unstoppable and iconic moves, the hesi pull up:
Folks have seen it at work on the world stage as well:
With his length, there's nothing anyone can do to stop that. He truly doesn't seem to be bothered with a great contest. Defenders like Bam Adebayo or Jimmy Butler might be able to put their hand in front of both his eyes, without touching his elbows. It's still buckets. He's an assassin. He's a master. There are no more words to talk about KD's offensive brilliance. In Nash's system he's focused not specifically on scoring, or on playmaking specifically, but on making the best play, period. And he's blossomed into an efficiency beast.
His performance in the 2021 NBA playoffs was arguably the best basketball anyone in the league played at any point last season. So for the NBA's sake, we need more of that this spring.
For Nets fans, it's been rough not having this dude over the last few weeks. If KD drains one of these pull ups tonight, you know we'll be sharing it out on the @NetsNationCP handle so give us a follow if you're still in transit when the game tips off.
Durant is back and the Nets have missed him badly.