Brooklyn Nets: 3 crucial goals for their run through the NBA playoffs

Brooklyn Nets playoff goals No. 1: Replace James Harden’s production if required.

Harden left the first game of the series against the Milwaukee Bucks with less than a minute played. He clutched the back of his leg due to another hamstring injury. This is the second such injury that the former Houston Rockets star has suffered this season.

The first one was at the start of April and forced Harden to miss 18 games. He came back with three games left but was reasonably ineffective in the games that he played. However, when the Nets took on the undermanned Boston Celtics, Harden simply took over.

He averaged 27.8 points, 10.8 assists, 7,2 rebounds, 2.0 steals, and 1.0 blocks in 36.2 minutes per game. He was also incredibly efficient shooting the ball at 55.6 percent from the floor, 47.5 percent from deep, and 90.9 from the line.

The Nets beat the Bucks in the first game but you can be assured that the Bucks are going to be determined to not let this opportunity slip through their fingers. They have had the best record in the Eastern Conference over the past two seasons and have not progressed past the second round.

If Harden is not able to return for part or all of the series, they’re going to ask a little more from their starters. However, their role players such as Bruce Brown and Landry Shamet will also need to take up some of the slack if they are to progress.