3 Eastern Conference NBA teams to watch down the final stretch

1. Brooklyn Nets

The Brooklyn Nets have gotten very little out of the dynamic duo of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant since they jointly signed with the team about 21 months ago, but James Harden has been a one-man wrecking crew as usual.

Entering the season, there was an entirely reasonable argument that it would be difficult for either Irving or Durant to be an MVP candidate simply because having the other constitutes “too much help”. But with Durant missing so much of the season so far, playing only 19 of a possible 49 games and Irving’s comings and goings, Harden’s dominance has absolutely entered him into the conversation to have a shot at a second MVP.

The Nets have gone 23-7 in Durant’s absence thanks to Harden’s efforts (and Irving’s too), and whenever KD gets back into the lineup this team should be an absolute juggernaut. According to head coach Steve Nash, Durant won’t be back this week and there isn’t a clear timetable for his return.

Strange as it sounds, though, the Nets probably won’t need this former MVP’s services until the playoffs. As it stands now, James Harden and Kyrie Irving have this engine running smoothly.