Kevin Durant is not yet ready to return to the Oklahoma City Thunder lineup, according to Head Coach Scott Brooks (via ESPN.com’s Royce Young).
Brooks described Durant's rehab as "peaks and valleys."
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) March 19, 2015
Brooks says Durant has already been ruled out for tomorrow's game against the Hawks.
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) March 19, 2015
Durant went from going through parts of practice last Saturday to now not practicing at all.
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) March 19, 2015
Durant has played only 27 games this season due to a broken foot, and his latest setback has kept him out of action since February 19th. While Russell Westbrook has kept the Thunder ahead of the New Orleans Pelicans for the final seed in the Western Conference, the team is in dire need of reinforcements. Power forward Serge Ibaka will miss the remained of the regular season following a procedure to “clean out” his knee earlier in the week.
The question needs to be asked: if Durant’s rehab is not going to plan, is it worth the risk of bringing him back for the playoff hunt? While the Thunder would have the weapons to advance in the playoffs as an eighth seed, nothing has gone their way this season, and it might be time to regroup and look at the bigger picture. As long as Durant, Westbrook and Ibaka remain on the roster, the Thunder’s championship window remains open.
It hasn’t been a fun season for Oklahoma City, and it doesn’t sound as if things are going to get better anytime soon.
Photo: USA Today