Nets: James Harden injury update puts further pressure on Kyrie Irving

With James Harden set to miss at least a week with a hamstring injury, the pressure is on for point guard Kyrie Irving to keep the ship afloat. 

The injury woes have certainly caused plenty of headaches for the Brooklyn Nets. First, Kevin Durant suffered a hamstring injury, and the sharpshooter has missed around two months of action. It was announced on Tuesday that James Harden is also banged up.

Harden, who arrived from Houston early in the season, is set to be re-evaluated in 10 days. While Durant should return to the lineup this week (we hope), this all only adds pressure on point guard Kyrie Irving to keep the team operating at a high level without a fully-healthy lineup.

Kyrie Irving will now be without James Harden for at least the next 10 days

Irving is in the middle of a sensational season for Brooklyn, as the Nets currently sit in first place of the Eastern Conference standings with a 35-16 record. The team is ahead of Philadelphia and Milwaukee in what figures to be a right race for the No. 1 seed all the way to the end of the regular season.

On the hardwood, Irving truly has been spectacular for Brooklyn, as he’s averaging 28 points, 6.2 assists and 4.9 rebounds per contest. He’s played a monster role in Brooklyn being so outstanding this season, which has the fans outside of the Barclays Center dreaming of a potential trip to the NBA Finals.

In order for the Nets to make that goal a reality, they’ll of course need Harden and Durant at full health. At the same time, Brooklyn will also rely on Irving to keep playing at his best and quarterback the offense the way he has for the rest of the campaign.