Jay Williams doesn’t suppose it’s the neatest concept, however his buddy Kevin Durant has defied the chances earlier than.
Nets GM Sean Marks lastly left the door open to Durant getting back from surgical procedure to restore an Achilles tendon tear in time for a possible playoff event in July if the NBA season resumes.
“That’s a $110 million query,” Marks mentioned Sunday. “I simply don’t know the way popping out of this pandemic will have an effect on anyone, not to mention Kevin.’’
Williams, an ESPN NBA analyst who additionally hosts “The Boardroom” with Durant, feels it may very well be too dangerous, going from one yr off to a playoff cauldron.
Durant had progressed to three-on-three video games when the coronavirus pandemic shut the league down. He had been resigned to returning subsequent October for the 2020-21 season. Now Durant may very well be getting antsy because the 2020-21 season could not start till Dec. 25.
Williams is worried the playoff occasion would characteristic few off days. The Nets are in seventh place within the East and Kyrie Irving (shoulder surgical procedure) is completed for the season.
“I believe everyone’s antsy,’’ Williams informed The Publish. “Because it pertains to Kevin, it depends upon the timetable of these video games and the way condensed it's. It’s one factor to come back again and begin the start of subsequent season the place there’s time and house between video games and [you can] hold your physique ramped up the proper manner. However somebody coming again off an damage and go proper right into a playoff situation, I don’t suppose it’s possible or truthful on Kevin himself. However Kevin is his personal man. He’ll do what he desires to do.”
The excellent news is Durant was in glorious situation in March, dazzling in these casual three-on-three matches.
“He's figuring out and feels nice which is absolutely good to listen to,’’ Williams mentioned. “The most effective gamers on the planet to really feel he can go is unbelievable. The query is the [playoff] timetable that no person is aware of.
“It’s about how lengthy will they prepare? How lengthy will he play five-on-five with bodily contact?. There’s a variety of questions that must be answered. Somebody can have nice particular person exercises and pickup video games however till you play in full live-game state of affairs with teammates, I don’t know the reply.’’
Stories counsel a three-week coaching camp can be staged. Groups in cities the place the lockdown is over can open their coaching amenities to gamers for particular person exercises starting Friday. The Nets and Knicks play in a state the place the lockdown isn’t scheduled to be over till Might 15 however the lockdown “downstate’’ is anticipated to last more.
Knicks radio analyst Brendan Brown mentioned on MSG Community a three-week camp is lengthy contemplating the sport plans are already in place. Not so, says Williams.
“They’ve been sitting on their butts,’’ mentioned Williams, the previous Duke star of NBA gamers “I felt out of tune with my physique once I took two days off, not to mention two months. Conditioning must get again to a excessive stage so that they’re not injured. When you shortened it, you jeopardize gamers to placing them in danger for damage for subsequent season.’’
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