Nets’ Title Odds Slide to +225 Following James Harden Injury Setback

• Brooklyn Nets’ title odds dip to +225 at BetOnline
• Nets say James Harden has suffered a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury
• Brooklyn still has the best title odds, followed by the Lakers (+340) and Clippers (+600)

The Brooklyn Nets have become the NBA’s latest “super team” this season, but injuries have started to take their toll. Kevin Durant recently returned from a hamstring injury that kept him sidelined for over a month, only to come up with a thigh contusion over the weekend. LaMarcus Aldridge, who was signed off of the buyout market last month, was forced to announce his retirement last week due to an irregular heartbeat.

James Harden, who became one of the frontrunners to win MVP after arriving from Houston in a trade in January, recently went down with a hamstring malady of his own. Harden was injured in the Nets’ game on April 5 against the Knicks, and he hasn’t played since. The Beard was reportedly on the verge of making a return to the lineup before the team announced on Tuesday evening that he has suffered an unfortunate setback in his recovery.

Harden’s Injury Setback

Nets coach Steve Nash said that Harden’s setback means he’s back to “square one” in his rehab process and that he has no timetable for his return to action. Brooklyn has been able to weather the injury storm for most of the season, but the playoffs are drawing near. The Nets’ 39-19 record is still good for the second-best mark in the Eastern Conference, but the injury issues have resulted in Brooklyn’s championship odds taking a hit.

The Nets are still odds-on favorites to win the title this season, but their odds have slid to +225 in light of the latest Harden news. The Nets had been in the +180 range prior to the injury. The Los Angeles Lakers, who are battling serious injury concerns of their own, are second-favorites at +340. The LA Clippers (+600), Utah Jazz (+800), Milwaukee Bucks (+900), and Philadelphia 76ers (+900) are the only other teams with title odds more favorable than +1000.

Harden has been incredible since arriving from Houston in January. The Beard is averaging 25.4 points, 11 assists, and 8.7 rebounds across 34 games with Brooklyn, a stretch that includes plenty of games without Durant and Kyrie Irving.

Can the Big Three Stay Healthy?

The sheer level of talent on the Brooklyn roster is the primary reason this team is still favored, but it’s worth wondering whether they will ever get fully healthy. Harden’s latest setback means the three All-Stars will have spent very little time playing together before the postseason gets underway next month. Durant, who has already been ruled out of Wednesday’s game with the thigh injury, has only played in eight games since the end of January.

Even if the Nets aren’t at full strength heading into the playoffs, it’s hard to imagine Brooklyn failing to advance out of the first round. The team will likely face the Hornets, Pacers, Bulls, or Heat in that first playoff series. Miami could give the Nets a run after making an unexpected trip to the Finals last year, but the Heat haven’t been able to replicate that form so far this term.

While oddsmakers think a Brooklyn title may be the most likely outcome, the Nets aren’t home-free by any means. The Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks are still standing in the Nets’ way at the top of the Eastern Conference. If Brooklyn is fortunate enough to get through to the Finals, they will likely have to face one of the Lakers, Clippers, Jazz, or Nuggets once they get there.