Once again, the Nets are facing a string of games—perhaps four weeks, perhaps until the all-star break—without their leader and MVP candidate, Kevin Durant. Last season, KD missed 21 straight games from mid-January through early March, and the Nets had a dismal 5-16 record in that stretch. This year’s team (25-8 under Jacque Vaughn) has looked better than last year’s, and the roster seems deeper; nonetheless, they’ll be scrambling to avoid a substantial slide in the standings while KD is out.
The challenge is compounded by the fact that the Nets are a top-heavy team. KD and Kyrie Irving have taken 40% of the team’s total shots this season.