Kevin Durant rested his right shoulder sprain during the Nets’ win over Orlando on Friday and it apparently made a difference, Brian Lewis of the New York Post writes. Durant returned to practice on Sunday and returned to action against Cleveland on Monday.
“Kevin is great. I think it served his shoulder well to miss a game,” coach Steve Nash said.
Durant is off to a strong start, averaging 28.6 PPG, 7.9 RPG and 4.9 APG in 16 games.
We have more on the New York City teams:
- LaMarcus Aldridge has thrived while playing on the Nets’ second unit but it’s still been a tough transition, he told Lewis. “It’s very difficult. You’ve been one type of player or a certain type of player your whole career. It’s definitely different coming off the bench and not playing much,” Aldridge said. “So it’s been difficult. … I’m still trying to figure it out and navigate it and find my spots. And I’m just trying to find my ways to try and help out.” Aldridge is playing for the veteran’s minimum after coming out of a health-related retirement. He’s averaging 12.9 PPG and 5.4 RPG in 20.6 MPG.
- Kemba Walker played both ends of a back-to-back this weekend for the first time this season. However, that won’t always be the case for a guard who’s battling knee injuries in recent seasons, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post. “Nothing is set in stone for back-to-backs,’’ Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “It’s just communication with medical people. Kemba has a lot of say in it. I trust him. He feels comfortable. And he’s done a great job taking care of his body.’’
- The Lakers will face the Knicks on Tuesday and Carmelo Anthony is looking forward to coming back to Madison Square Garden against his former team, Berman writes in a separate story. He says the New York fans treat him with uncommon adoration. “I always look forward to playing at the Garden, playing in front of the fans,” Anthony said. “With the Knicks or against the Knicks. That love is different. That fan base is different for me. It goes deeper than basketball. They embrace me. I embrace them.”
Thibs coaching has to be discuss at some point this season
We have no guard penetration and Randle’s shooting percentages are down. Fournier was a bad signing, and Point guards are turnstiles on D. Not Thibs fault. I’m not into quickly blaming coaches and firing them. We need stability
Agreed Fournier was the wrong “marquee” signing for this team.
Then adding Kemba to the backcourt as well has made defensive efficiency, which was their lifeblood last year, increasingly difficult.
It hasn’t helped that Barrett has been meh and Randle is looking like his pre-2020-1 self.
At this point I’d like to see Thibs at least trying out more of Obi, McBride, and IQ. Maybe some more Obi at the 5 might be warranted?
Melo sucks …..
Is that the NY fan’s version of uncommon adoration?
Any other coach would be playing obi and quickley more
That’s weird because I live in NY and love basketball as do a lot of my friends, none of us have “uncommon adoration” or “embrace” Melo. We all know he stagnated the offense and didn’t play much D. We all know he didn’t take us anywhere.
Agreed. Even the few Knick fans I know who were originally bullish on the Melo trade (Syracuse alums in most cases) eventually realized that he was a limited player who couldn’t lead a team anywhere. Plus, his attitude prevented anyone else (coach or teammate) from doing it.