2 min read • February 11, 2022
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FanDuel Sportsbook had them opening as the prohibitive favorites to win the NBA championship, but two-thirds of the way through the season and they're battling for play-in spots. What happened to the Nets and Lakers?
The Nets completed a blockbuster trade Thursday, sending away James Harden and his ailing hamstring and bringing in Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, and Andre Drummond.
This trade was the culmination of what has been a tumultuous season, and a disappointing year-and-a-half since trading for James Harden last season with the expectation of contending for multiple championships.
Despite falling in the second round and first round, respectively, to the eventual Finals participants Bucks and Suns, the Nets (+210) and Lakers (+440) were listed as preseason favorites to win the NBA title.
The odds have always had a major qualifier: if they are healthy. Well, not only have the two veteran teams not been healthy, but they have been as derailed by injuries as any other contending teams (outside of Chicago).
In total, the Nets – who are still the title favorites at +420, according to FanDuel Sportsbook – have missed 119 games from their expected starting 5, an average of 23.8 per player, while the Lakers have only seen their core trio of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Russell Westbrook for 18 games this season.
Let's run through the major injuries that have slowed the Lakers to 26-30 with the 27th-ranked defense in the NBA and led the 29-25 Nets to their current 9-game losing streak.
Kevin Durant is set to miss his 13th straight game as he recovers from a left MCL sprain that is expected to keep him out for a few more weeks. In total, he has been unavailable for 18 games this season, and the Nets are 5-13 in those games.
LeBron James has missed 16 games this season with an assortment of ailments, but the most concerning is his current left knee swelling that is potentially emanating from a Baker's cyst. James just played a back-to-back, losing both games, and is slated to load manage through the 2nd half of the season. The Lakers are 6-10 without him.
Anthony Davis suffered a left MCL sprain of his own in mid-December that kept him out for 17 games. Davis is an oft-injured player, but this injury had the butterfly effect of putting more stress on James to step in as a No. 1 scoring option and forced him to play more minutes at center, possibly contributing to his left knee issues.
James Harden missed much of the last half of 2020-21 with a right hamstring strain, and has been dealing with a strained right hand and tight left hamstring that have heavily contributed to Brooklyn's fall down the East standings.
Joe Harris was expected to be the floor-spacer the Nets needed to punish defenses for doubling their big 3, but he has missed the past 40 games with a left ankle injury that appears to be heading towards a second surgery. He suffered an ankle sprain on Nov. 14 that escalated to surgery to remove a floating bone particle in his ankle. The Nets added Seth Curry on Thursday to help fill the shooting hole the 30-year-old has left, but will still need his contributions come playoff time.
Nic Claxton has missed 9 games since Jan. 10 with left hamstring tightness, leaving the Nets slim up front. LaMarcus Aldridge, Brooklyn's backup big and 6th man, has similarly missed 11 games since Jan. 1 with right foot soreness and a left ankle sprain, the ailment that is keeping him out currently. The addition of rebounding and layup monster Andre Drummond may be telling of the Nets' confidence in Aldridge staying healthy going forward.
Carmelo Anthony suffered a hamstring strain that we expect will keep him out into the All-Star break next weekend, leaving a hole in the
Kendrick Nunn, who was hoped to join Malik Monk and Talen Horton-Tucker as a young microwave scorer out of the 2nd unit, but has not played this season while dealing with a bone bruise in his right knee that has not improved.
Kyrie Irving, not to be outdone, has missed 40 games in his own right while battling with the Nets front office and the City of New York on the local vaccine mandate.
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