Can Kevin Durant keep the Nets afloat in Game 5?

Can Kevin Durant rise to the occasion without Kyrie Irving and James Harden an unknown to lead the Brooklyn Nets to victory in Game 5?

The Brooklyn Nets are in a sticky situation heading into Game 5 of their second-round playoff series against the Milwaukee Bucks. Kyrie Irving is injured and won’t play. James Harden will reportedly give it a go but his health and durability are a complete unknown, meaning Kevin Durant will have to pick up the slack. He’s proven that he can rise in moments like these, but is this obstacle too big for the Slim Reaper to conquer?

This year, the Bucks have been a consistent thorn in Brooklyn’s side. Milwaukee won their regular-season series 2-1, and each contest was highly competitive. However, with their playoff series tied 2-2, Irving injured and Harden ailing, this could be Giannis Antentokounmpo and company’s chance to erase their playoff woes finally.

Durant has played very well in their playoff series against the Bucks, averaging 29.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.3 blocks per game, according to ESPN. In Game 5, however, he will need to have one of those “virtuoso performances” to keep his team from the brink of elimination.

Durant will have to be the orchestrator of Brooklyn’s offense. Even though he can do it, it isn’t something the former MVP is known for. In fact, he’s never had to control an offense by himself for the majority of his career. So not only will he have to worry about scoring on his own, but he will also have to get his teammates involved as well. That’s a mental adjustment that can be difficult for a pure scorer like Durant, so things could be choppy to start Game 5.

Head coach Steve Nash is trying to spread the responsibility around the team, saying, “This does not fall on Kevin. It falls on the Nets,” per The Athletic.

Being a former MVP, Steve Nash knows that’s not entirely true. Stars are meant to rise to the occasion, even if the chips are stacked against them. It is now time for Kevin Durant to lead the offense despite missing his All-Star running mates and will the Nets to victory.

Kevin Durant has to be special in what is essentially a must-win game.

With the series tied 2-2, Game 5 is clearly a must-win game for the Nets. Losing this game on their home floor puts them at a disadvantage heading back to Milwaukee for Game 6, especially if Irving and Harden aren’t ready to go. So in the simplest terms, Brooklyn needs Durant to have a special performance Tuesday night so that he can offer his injured teammates some extra rest.

If Durant leads his team to a Game 5 victory, it will alleviate some of the pressure on Irving and Harden to push themselves over the rest of this series.  The Nets can hold both players out in Game 6 since Durant proved he could lead the team without him, giving them a little extra healing time if needed for a Game 7.

The Bucks will throw more bodies at Durant since the Nets don’t have much offensive talent outside of him. P.J. Tucker has been the primary defender, playing physically and getting under the Durantula’s skin at times. Antentokounmpo has also played some defense on the 6-foot-10 forward. Durant’s had to work for his shots, and it won’t be any different in Game 5.

It is a tall task to beat the Bucks when you are missing roughly 50 points per game from your starting five. However, it’s the playoffs and it’s either put up or shut up. Despite the added pressure and expectations entering a pivotal Game 5, Kevin Durant is preparing to do what he believes he does on the court every night: everything.

“I might have to handle the ball more, I might have to post up more, I might have to come off pin-downs more. I’ve just got to be prepared to do everything out there just like any night,” Durant said per The Athletic.