WASHINGTON \u2014 Neither Kevin Durant nor Kyrie Irving are going to play a second for the Nets the rest of the season. They won\u2019t score a point or grab a rebound or take a charge. But it doesn\u2019t mean they can\u2019t have an impact.<\/p>\n
Durant hasn\u2019t been traveling with the Nets on road games, and neither has Irving since getting hurt on a West Coast road trip in November. Kenny Atkinson \u2014 who insists there\u2019s no danger of detachment from the team \u2014 said that\u2019s not going to change as long as their rehab is better served at home. But he said that could change eventually.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, we\u2019re around them enough. I always hark back to the priority\u2019s got to be what\u2019s best for them from a rehab standpoint. That overrides everything,\u201d Atkinson said. \u201cAnd sometimes they want to come, and we\u2019re like \u2018No, you need to be on the AlterG at home.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just can\u2019t provide the same type of rehab conditions on the road, and that\u2019s priority number one. I think we\u2019ll continue to do that. But I think in the future you\u2019ll see that change as the rehab processes get further down the road.\u201d<\/p>\n Durant is expected to miss the entire season after Achilles surgery in June, while Irving\u2019s has been cut short after just 20 appearances. He opted last week for season-ending shoulder surgery which still hasn\u2019t been scheduled.<\/p>\n When Steph Curry was cleared to start traveling with Golden State last month, both coach Steve Kerr and his teammates lauded the impact he had just being around the team and in huddles.<\/p>\n Considering the way the Nets gush over Irving and Durant\u2019s basketball IQs, it would stand to reason they would get similar benefits from their stars\u2019 being present. Their next road trip after the one they\u2019re currently on includes a March 12 visit to Golden State. <\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not going to give you any timetable. It\u2019s just when we can afford them and say well, we can do the same thing on the road rehab-wise,\u201d Atkinson said. \u201cI know those guys would be thrilled. We\u2019d be thrilled to have them come. It\u2019s an advantage and we can be around those guys. It\u2019s better for us, better for the organization.\u201d<\/p>\n The Nets saw their lead on No. 8 Orlando for the seventh seed sliced to just a half game with Wednesday\u2019s 110-106 loss to the Wizards. Avoiding that spot \u2014 and a first-round matchup with NBA-leading Milwaukee \u2014 is paramount. And with just 25 games left on the slate, the scoreboard-watching has started.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course we look at it. That\u2019s the goal. We want to make the playoffs. We let a couple slip. But we\u2019ll get back on the right track,\u201d said Caris LeVert, who admitted to a sense of urgency. \u201cAbsolutely. I feel like that\u2019s a great opportunity for us to get another win, a road win. So be excited for it.\u201d <\/p>\n Since going back in the starting lineup nine games ago, LeVert has averaged 23.9 points, 5.3 assists, 4.3 boards and 2.3 steals.<\/p>\n Wilson Chandler missed Wednesday\u2019s game because of a personal issue, but it isn\u2019t expected to keep him out for long.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"Kevin](\"https:\/\/thenypost.files.wordpress.com\/2020\/02\/durant.irving.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=300)