Brooklyn Nets: Kevin Durant’s injury could cost the Nets a top 3 seed

Kevin Durant’s injury could cost the Brooklyn Nets a top 3 seed in the Eastern Conference. 

The Brooklyn Nets, when healthy, have the talent to be overwhelmingly good. For one reason or another, they simply can’t escape the injury bug. This time, it has bitten Kevin Durant, who is expected to miss 4-6 weeks with a sprained MCL.

Throughout much of this season, the duo of James Harden and Durant had been fairly consistent in terms of availability for the team. Before his most recent injury, Durant had only missed six games (most of them due to rest) and Harden has only missed six games this season himself.

However, Kyrie Irving had missed all but three games so far this season due to sitting out because the Nets refused to let him be a part-time player for the team. In fact, the only reason why he’s back is that the team has made a 180 on their decision.

Now, they’re going to need him more than ever – even if it is just on the road – as Durant’s timetable could put him out until the beginning of March. And that’s assuming that the Nets will have him on an aggressive rehab program – there’s no sense in doing that.

In short, there’s a good chance that we won’t see Durant until there are roughly only 15 games remaining in the season. At that point, there won’t be much time for the Nets to make up ground if they need to do so.

Not having Durant for the next couple of months, and then not having Kyrie in home games, could have a huge impact on the Eastern Conference playoff race.

It wouldn’t be insane to say that, because of this injury, the Nets are going to lose out on a top 3 seed in the Eastern Conference.

As it currently stands, the Nets are third in the East and are just two games ahead of the sixth-seeded Philadelphia 76ers. In fact, it would be downright surprising if the Nets maintained a top 3 seed with the Miami Heat, Sixers, and Milwaukee Bucks all playing much better as of late.

It’s a shame that we are still not going to see a fully healthy – and fully available – Nets team during the second half of the season. Perhaps we’ll be able to see it, finally, during the postseason. But, as history suggests with this team, there’s no guarantee.