Pretenders to Contenders: What’s behind the Nets staggering 180?

Durant’s dominance helped spark the Nets’ dramatic turnaround.

In the midst of another MVP campaign who some might declare the leading candidate, Durant has certainly been, what Charles Barkley described as, driving the bus for Brooklyn reaching a whole new level as a leader. Since that November game in Sacramento, Durant has put up 29.2, five assists, 6.8 boards shooting 57.9% and 38.5 from behind the arc. Not to mention, the accustomed 94.9 at the line.

Over the 20-game, 18-2 stretch, Durant has recorded 30.5 ppg, 6.9 rebs, and 5.4 asts. Again, blistering splits of 58.1/40.7/95.2%. As he has owned the midrange zone mastering the basics of the game, as usual, this season, the Slim Reaper has reached a whole new level of efficiency. And I mean, it really is not even close.

"“I just like good practices, I like a good preparation, I like good energy and we’ve been showing that to be honest,” Durant told Haynes. “Coaches have been doing a great job, regardless of this loss tonight and last game. I think we’ve been preparing ourselves well. Guys want to win. We’re out there playing as hard as we can. That’s really what I need.”"

Durant has long been a driving force behind Vaughn taking reigns and it has exhibited with their leader and the rest of the Nets buying into the former defensive-minded player’s system. They were a bottom-feeder on that end going into the alerting Kings’ loss prior to this turnaround. After being laughed at for their efforts on that end for the last two seasons, the strides they have made on that end of the floor under Vaughn’s scheme of things have been nothing short of staggering and remarkable.