Kyrie Irving

Finding a formula to win without Durant wasn't going to be immediate. There's no algorithm to replace an all-time great.

“I’m taking that on my responsibility that you’ve got juice coming into the game, now you’ve got to play with that juice. Vaughn said the Nets’ first step to determine what works and what doesn’t has to start with effort. Ben’s got to be able to be a force for us on the defensive end of the floor so that we can play small, play three guards out there so we can have shooting around him. It was a summation of the Nets’ evening, off balance on both ends of the floor in their first game without Durant, who has the rare ability to stabilize both. [Nets’](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/nets/) 109-98 loss to the [Celtics](https://theathletic.com/nba/team/celtics/). When [Jayson Tatum](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/jayson-tatum-3O7MInr4zV5KKhZ5/) went to the bench for his first rest, Vaughn immediately pulled Simmons in place of Curry to pair him with Irving. So we just have to be efficient with the basketball and value possessions that we do get to do the little things. We’ve got to be more up to having force on the defensive end of the floor and then hopefully we can make some shots.” Simmons’ pace and playmaking combined with the shotmaking of Curry, Harris, Warren and Irving kept the game competitive for the first three quarters. Warren scored seven quick points to keep the Nets in lockstep with the Celtics, who were without Warren](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/tj-warren-te6am5kOZ0yFvULt/) scored 20 points off the bench, reaching the mark for the second time this season, and [Joe Harris](https://theathletic.com/nba/player/joe-harris-QESU2aIXmpGRn50l/) had a season-high 18 points. And now we just have to find a balance within the structure of this team that we have right now without Kev.