MIAMI — In his first feedback to beat writers in a month, and together with his group mired in an 11-game shedding skid, injured Nets star Kevin Durant addressed the commerce of James Harden to the 76ers, his former teammate’s unhappiness in Brooklyn and the pall of uncertainty that hung over the group in consequence.
Durant — who strained his left MCL throughout a recreation Jan. 15 towards the Pelicans and missed a 14th straight recreation Saturday — stated the blockbuster deal, which is bringing Ben Simmons to Brooklyn, ought to give the Nets a way of calm.
Contemplating the Nets’ 11-game shedding streak is the worst within the league after a 115-111 loss to the Warmth on Saturday — falling from first within the East to eighth — they want it.
“It simply offers everybody on the group a way of safety and so they’re going to be right here and be part of the group going ahead the remainder of the season. I’m certain there was lots of uncertainty within the locker room about what our future was going to be as a bunch,” Durant stated. “However all people now has settled in on what they should do.”
What the Nets desperately must do is get wholesome and get pulling in the identical path to get into the playoffs, earlier than they'll begin fascinated about successful them.
Harden was disgruntled. Durant stated his fellow star didn’t owe anyone a proof for why he all of the sudden determined he needed out of Brooklyn, however he claimed Harden’s abrupt heel-turn caught him unexpectedly.
“He’s made his resolution. I’m certain individuals make their resolution earlier than they get to that mode of being sad. I didn’t have any conversations with James up till then. I believed every little thing was strong,” stated Durant, insisting he had no concept what was coming.
“When the studies got here out that they have been in talks with getting traded. I wasn’t across the group as a result of I used to be rehabbing and so they have been on the street for a bit, a pair street journeys, so I wasn’t across the group to actually, actually see the vibe. However I do know the losses damage us, and I do know my harm may’ve damage the group a bit not being round. After which Kyrie [Irving] in-and-out the lineup.”
The unvaccinated Irving’s part-time standing had been a bone of competition for Harden. When requested if that had an influence on the previous MVP deciding to develop into a former Web, Durant demurred.
“There’s clearly going to be rumors about that. Kyrie has all the time been a straightforward scapegoat for everyone, particularly for the media and the followers. They love to make use of him as a scapegoat for lots of issues. So it’s simple responsible him,” Durant stated. “However I can’t speculate on how James is feeling. I do know lots of the media will put that on him.”
Some may also put the Nets’ shedding streak on him. They entered Saturday having misplaced the final seven video games Irving performed.
The Nets are additionally simply 2-12 since Durant acquired damage. They’ve fallen into the play-in behind the sixth-place Raptors.
“We all know we’re in some deep s–t, don’t get me fallacious: However we do perceive that with a win, one win, it might simply put us heading in the right direction. And that’s what it takes on this league and issues can change fairly quick,” Durant stated. “I’m assured in our group.”
Durant has been again on the courtroom for per week, although he has not but been cleared for high-intensity work. He’s anticipated to return to motion after the All-Star Recreation, however wouldn’t decide to play the primary recreation following the break, Feb. 24 towards the Celtics.
“I really feel that the subsequent couple weeks that I’ll begin to do extra. That’s most likely as a lot as I may give you and I don’t know for certain,” Durant stated. “I’m simply listening to the coaching workers, simply doing my job and coming in and following the sport plan each day. No matter they provide me.
“However from the previous couple of weeks I really feel like they’ve been in a position to give me increasingly more every day. So I’ll ramp up right here quickly and see what occurs. I need to be again as quick as potential, however I additionally know I don’t need to go on the market and be 80 %. I need to be 100 [percent] so I could be the most effective that I could be.”
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