A couple of nights ago, Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets was injured during a game, incurring an MCL strain.
At first, people were fearing the worst and thought it could be like last season when Durant missed a lengthy amount of time and the Nets sank like a stone without him.
But good news came back from the team as they reported that he would miss about a month at most.
Still, a lot can happen in that amount of time.
With 12-time All-Star Kevin Durant to miss several weeks, the future outlook to win the Eastern Conference remains mostly unchanged at the top.
However, odds for the 76ers and Cavaliers have now moved from +900 to +750 and from +1000 to +900, respectively, per @FDSportsbook.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 10, 2023
Shams Charania is reporting that the betting markets haven’t been that influenced by the loss of Durant.
The lineup at the top of the East looks about the same but the odds for the Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers have been altered a bit.
The odds for the 76ers moved from +900 to +750 and the odds for the Cavs changed from +1,000 to +900.
If Durant was going to be out for more time, the odds of these teams probably would have changed a lot more.
But the Nets of 2022-23 are not the Nets of 2021-22: they are better and well-rounded and they have a head coach who really understands them and how to make them work effectively.
Therefore, losing Durant for a few weeks shouldn’t dash their chances as it did last year.
Still, you can bet that other teams – from the 76ers, Cavs, and beyond – will attempt to capitalize on the loss of Durant and will try their hardest to play expertly and work their way up the in the East.
Keep a close eye on the Milwaukee Bucks, who are just behind the Nets right now in the East.
The next few weeks could be pivotal for these teams.
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