The Nets are about to play the Pelicans at home, and after the last crushing loss to the Western Thunder, they hope to use a win to boost morale and avoid a losing streak. Before this game, the Nets announced the team's injury report, a total of 5 people on the team were absent, and the sick absence of the front line doubled the pressure on Durant.
This game is played at the Barclays Center, so Irving can't play, Joe Harris is still in the process of recuperating from injury, there is no timetable for return, veteran Aldridge has missed the past 4 games because of a foot injury, he will continue to be absent from this game, and young interior Linecraxton is also determined not to play this game because of a hamstring injury, and front-line defender James Johnson will not play in this game because of illness.
The Nets' frontcourt itself is weaker, and the absence of Ade, Clarkston and James Johnson at the same time will put more pressure on their interior line. The good news is that Durant and Mills, who were on leave in the last game, have comeback in this game, which has brought two powerful offensive firepower points to the team, and the team's strength will also increase, just as the Nets have been facing problems since last season, they have been using backcourt offensive firepower to make up for the lack of interior.
However, for Durant, his pressure will also increase in this game, due to the lack of two centers, and the absence of James Johnson, Durant will face huge defensive pressure in this game, in addition to often helping to assist in the interior, less James Johnson, will also make him less of a reliable forward substitute. So after a break, Durant will probably start model mode in this game again, unless the Nets can quickly establish a larger lead, so that the main players can get more rest time in the fourth quarter. In this game, Durant will face Ingram, who is known as "Little Durant", and what kind of sparks the two will rub in the game is expected.
If it is last season, the Nets have a double giant game, the strength is already very strong, but this season, even if they have a double giant, playing any team can only be five or five, there is not much guarantee, there is still a long way to go from the championship favorite, and with the previous 3 giants combined to win the Bulls, the Nets finally regained the confidence to rush the championship, as long as Irving can play, the Nets are still one of the most competitive teams in the league. Before the game, Nets coach Nash also made a request to Irving when he talked about him.
Nash said: "At the moment, the most important thing for Owen is to get the body to adapt as soon as possible! ”
Having been absent for a long time before coming back, Irving needs to find the rhythm of the game again and re-adapt to the physical confrontation on the court, so, although Irving has played 3 games, he has clearly not returned to his best form, and the last game he played the Bulls, Irving only scored 9 points, which is still a long way from his normal level. And Irving has not yet returned to its best form, the Big 3 combination has shown such great power, once Irving begins to adapt to the rhythm of the game, there is no doubt that that is when the Nets are maximized, which is why Nash will ask Irving to adapt to the body as soon as possible.
It is worth mentioning that due to the change of new York regulations, Irving can appear at home to play after paying the fine, which also means that as long as the Nets management is willing, they can make the Big Three appear at home by paying a fine!