CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Nets are nonetheless a betting favourite to succeed in the NBA Finals, but when they’re going to win the title they’re going to have to interrupt by means of every kind of damaging historical past to do it.
Brooklyn comes into Tuesday’s recreation with the Hornets simply 32-33, and having dropped 17 of its final 20. No workforce with a dropping mark this deep within the season has ever claimed the title; and no workforce in league historical past has ever gone 3-17 (or worse) in a 20-game span and even made it to the Finals, based on ESPN.
However Kevin Durant — who grew to become the seventh-fastest man in NBA historical past to attain 25,000 factors — is ignoring all of the stats and figures, and insists he’s not apprehensive.
“Involved and apprehensive, these phrases, it’s straightforward to do this,” Durant stated. “It’s straightforward to be involved. It’s straightforward to be apprehensive. It’s straightforward to be pissed off and mad. It’s straightforward to do this. We will level fingers and blame our season on different issues. However let’s simply go play.
“We’ve obtained one other recreation. We obtained 17 extra and let’s see what occurs on the finish of them. We simply take it a day at a time, man. A day at a time, and I’m assured on this group.”
Tuesday’s recreation versus the eighth-place Hornets has play-in ramifications. The ninth-place Nets already path the season collection 1-0, and host the Hornets on March 27.
“We all know what we’ve obtained to do. We all know what scenario we’re in. We wish to win each recreation,” Durant stated. “We’re going to return on the market and attempt to win that recreation. It’s a way of urgency; however we’re not placing strain on us each time we’re round one another.”
Rookie Cam Thomas (again contusion) is questionable after being compelled out of Sunday’s loss in Boston.
LaMarcus Aldridge (proper hip impingement), David Duke Jr. (G-League, two-way), Joe Harris (left ankle surgical procedure), Day’Ron Sharpe (G-League project) and Ben Simmons (return to competitors reconditioning/again soreness) are out.
With Aldridge out, the Nets opted to not recall rookie middle Sharpe from Lengthy Island. After starter Andre Drummond logged simply 16 minutes towards the Celtics as a consequence of poor matchups, he presumably ought to be capable of get prolonged enjoying time towards the Hornets, together with Nic Claxton and Blake Griffin.
Simmons nonetheless hasn’t been cleared to apply, however is predicted to hitch the Nets on this highway journey, both Tuesday or Thursday in Philadelphia. Simmons’ return to Philadelphia, even on the bench, will make for a charged setting.
The New York Nets’ 1974 and 1976 ABA Championship banners that hung within the rafters of the Nassau Coliseum — commemorating the one two titles in franchise historical past — are nonetheless up for bid within the Lelands Winter Traditional Public sale, which runs by means of Saturday.
A 1974 Topps Nets Julius Erving buying and selling card broke a gross sales file for a Dr. J card Sunday evening with a $132,000 sale at PWCC Market’s Weekly Sunday Public sale.
