NBA Power Rankings Week 17: A new number one and a lot of injuries

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 14: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers guards Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets in the second quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on April 14, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

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38-18. Previous: 4th. Brooklyn Nets. 5. team. 147.

Last Week: Beat Minnesota Timberwolves 127-97, Lost to Philadelphia 76ers 123-117, Beat Charlotte Hornets 130-115

This Week: 4/18 at Miami Heat, 4/20 at New Orleans Pelicans, 4/21 at Toronto Raptors, 4/23 vs. Boston Celtics

The team in the league that seems the most capable of dealing with continued injury issues, the Brooklyn Nets just keep rolling. Kevin Durant came back just as James Harden exited the lineup. Harden last played on April 5. Durant returned the very next game and is picking up right where he left off.

In the two games he played this week, KD averaged 28.0 points, 7.5 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game on shooting splits of .704/.636/.917. That level of efficiency is unsustainable but also somehow unsurprising given the effortless feel of Durant’s game. The fit for the Nets has been seamless no matter which of the stars share the court because of the genius level of talents and that will only get better the more that all three share the court.

We have already acknowledged that LaMarcus Aldridge from the individual perspective, but for the Nets, it will result in the return to the lineup for DeAndre Jordan. He played just 21.3 minutes and averaged 11.0 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game. He made 15 of his 16 shots from the field this week and will need to do more of that as one of only two true centers on the roster getting meaningful minutes.