Jacque Vaughn would like to solicit Kevin Durant less

Luka Doncic (37.6 minutes), Mikal Bridges (37.3), Anfernee Simons (37)… Taking a look at the Top 10 highest average playing times in the league, no one will be surprised to see that the youth have taken over . There is still an exception among these players under 30: Kevin Durant.

At 34, the Nets superstar boasts the sixth-best time in the league with nearly 37 minutes per game. Taking into account the accumulation of minutes since the start of the season, he is even the player who has stayed on the floor the longest with 844 minutes played, just ahead of his teammate Royce O’Neale (823 minutes).

” It’s not ideal », must recognize Jacque Vaughn. The latter justifies this massive use by an immediate need for victories. ” While we’re in ‘win now’ mode, winning today’s game, we’re talking behind the scenes about what will happen after tomorrow, then the day after tomorrow. So it’s on our minds », Develops the coach whose team has just switched to the positive (12 wins – 11 losses).

The latter was forced to rely heavily on his major player to compensate both for the absences linked to the suspension of Kyrie Irving and the injuries or returns from the infirmary of each other (Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, etc.), as well as the irregular productions from some duty players, such as Joe Harris.

“He shouldn’t be playing so much, that’s for sure”

All during a hellish November for the Nets. The New Yorkers have chained 10 away games in a series of 12 games. This exhausting schedule is now more favorable to them with an ongoing series of seven home games, started with three straight wins.

Fortunately Kevin Durant, who played a little more last year (37.2 minutes and 55 games played), holds the shock physically. For now at least.

To avoid a glitch, the Nets must dose between meetings. ” We are going to plan a time when we are going to do without a shooting session, in order to be strategic in this way. But ideally he shouldn’t play so many minutes so early in the season, that’s for sure. », judge Jacque Vaughn.

In the meantime, his player is taking the opportunity to plant just over 30 points each night, his second highest career average behind the 2013-2014 season when he was still wearing the Thunder jersey.