NBA Notebook: Nets can compete without Durant; Lakers should listen to LeBron

The Nets look like they might be able to survive without their biggest star, LeBron rightfully wants help and the Dubs are back at full strength again.

Here’s a look at what’s happening around the NBA right now.

Nets offer glimpse of life without KD

Around this time last season, Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant went down with injury, dooming his team to just a seventh-seed finish and a first-round sweep at the hands of the Boston Celtics after Brooklyn went just 5-16 in his absence, including an 11-game losing streak.

At the time of Durant’s injury, the Nets were 27-15, in second place in the Eastern Conference and playing well largely because of the immense talents of their superstar forward.

Flash forward to now and it looks like déjà vu all over again for Brooklyn.

On Monday, news broke that Durant had suffered a knee injury during Brooklyn’s 102-101 win over the Miami Heat on Jan. 8 -- the Nets’ 18th victory in their last 20 games at the time -- putting a serious downer on what was looking like a special Brooklyn season in the making.

Similarly to how things went last season before Durant went down, the Nets were 27-13 and second place in the East and now must navigate waters without him for at least two weeks.

On Thursday, Brooklyn played its first game without its MVP candidate, and actually looked alright in the process.

Yes, the Nets did still lose, 109-98 to the first-place Celtics, and yes, Boston was without Jaylen Brown, but there were flashes seen in that Thursday defeat to give reason for optimism if you’re a Brooklyn fan.

For one thing, Kyrie Irving had an off night, requiring 24 field-goal attempts to get his game-high 24. With the way he’s been playing of late -- as both a healthy and seemingly more focused player -- he’ll surely be more efficient and play better against other opponents.

Additionally, with Durant out, some of those shot attempts and scoring opportunities that were his can now be spread out more, to the benefit of players like T.J. Warren. After being forced to miss all of last season after undergoing surgery to repair a stress fracture in his foot, Warren’s been working his way back this season, trying to find some of that microwave scoring form he showed in the bubble. On Thursday, with more minutes to work with, he had 20 points on 9-of-18 shooting in 28 minutes coming off the bench.

It's impossible to fully replicate what Durant brings to the table -- particularly as a sniper from mid-range -- but having an option like Warren will certainly make things easier for the Nets.

Life without Durant will be difficult for the next little while for Brooklyn, but this is a different team than last season’s with someone who appears to be able to weather adversity better manning the helm in Jacque Vaughn.

There’s good reason to believe Brooklyn can make it through this patch and remain in a strong position.

Catch the Nets take on the Oklahoma City Thunder Sunday on Sportsnet ONE starting at 6 p.m. ET.

LeBron wants help and he should get it

In a recent interview with The Athletic’s Sam Amick, Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James made it clear that he wants to see some upgrades to what is a largely old and talent-devoid roster.

“Y’all know what the [expletive] should be happening,” he told Amick. “I don’t need to talk.”

For what it’s worth, James did try to walk back his comments on Twitter, but the message seemed loud and clear.

At 38 years of age, James is still playing at an MVP level and yet finds himself on a Lakers squad that’s struggling to even make it into play-in game territory.

That just isn’t right.

When Anthony Davis first went down, the worst was feared for the Lakers, but thanks to James’ efforts, Los Angeles has managed to stay afloat. Davis has reportedly begun to ramp up for a return, meaning help is on the way, but it still might not be enough.

With the trade deadline coming up, the Lakers must do all they can to try to add reinforcements to give James at least one more kick at the can given how brilliantly he’s playing.

That means finding a suitor for the likes of Patrick Beverley, Russell Westbrook -- despite how well he’s played off the bench -- and anyone else besides Davis, really, in order to try to get help for James.

Be the team everyone thinks you are, Lakers, and just go out and bring in pieces, prices by damned.

The Lakers face off against the Philadelphia 76ers Sunday on Sportsnet ONE starting at 9:30 p.m. ET.

Curry’s return and other significant injury news around the league

On Tuesday, Stephen Curry returned to the Golden State Warriors lineup after an 11-game absence with a shoulder injury, scoring 24 points in a 125-113 loss to the Phoenix Suns.

Despite the loss, news of Curry’s return is obviously good for the Dubs, who now, at last, have all four of their big guns back in the lineup with Canadian Andrew Wiggins making his return last Saturday. Now back at full strength, the Warriors should be able to focus on climbing back up the Western Conference standings after snapping a three-game losing skid on Friday against the lowly San Antonio Spurs.

Elsewhere around the league, Celtics star Brown, who missed Thursday’s game against Brooklyn, is expected to miss about 1-2 weeks with a right adductor strain, budding Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton will miss at least two weeks with elbow and knee ailments and, in positive news, Washington Wizards all-star Bradley Beal has been cleared tor resume basketball activities, although it’s unclear when he may return.

As proven by their victory Thursday night, the Celtics can survive a few games without Brown and, while the pursuit for tops in the East is important, giving Brown extra time to get healthier for the playoffs may not be a bad idea as it appears to be championship or bust for Boston this season.

In regards to the Pacers, seeing Haliburton go down is terrible news for fans as he’s one of the most exciting young players in the NBA today, but for Indiana’s trade deadline strategy his absence may be a blessing in disguise. The Pacers weren’t supposed to be as good as they’ve been this season. But without Haliburton, a legitimate floor general, things could come undone quickly in Indiana, meaning the front office might become more comfortable with the idea of looking to trade both Buddy Hield and Myles Turner at the deadline -- possibly to the Lakers.

And as for the Wizards, Beal’s impending return is a welcome one, of course. Whether or not it impacts Washington’s deadline strategy either way, though, is anyone’s guess.

Watch Curry and the Warriors go up against the Chicago Bulls Sunday on Sportsnet ONE starting at 3:30 p.m. ET.