Jacque Vaughn insists the Nets’ mission ‘doesn’t change’ despite Kevin Durant being out a month

Brooklyn Nets coach Jacque Vaughn hopes his team will continue to play at a sublime level even without superstar Kevin Durant, saying they “have no excuses.”

Durant was ruled out for at least a month earlier this week after suffering a sprained MCL.

That is the most important. I’m not going to give this group a chance to make excuses,’ Vaughn said Wednesday. Here to play. Here to win. Here to compete. It does not change. love them.’

Jacque Vaughn said Nets mission ‘doesn’t change’, despite missing Kevin Durant

Durant will be out for at least a month after spraining his right MCL against the Miami Heat

“I think this group has shown that they have determination, they have the ability to fight and a belief,” Vaughn said. ‘You just take the end of the game in Miami.

We were down nine and ended up winning a basketball game without Kevin on the court. So I think that’s a direct reflection of this group.

“I think they are looking forward to playing and trying to win and figure it out together.

“So I hope this group is in a better place mentally and physically to handle this challenge.”

Nets center Nic Claxton believes the team is well-equipped to handle Durant’s absence.

Like Vaughn, center Nic Claxton also believes the team is much better equipped to handle Durant’s absence than it was the last time the star forward was hurt and the team went 5-18.

“Just our spirit, our energy, our vibes,” Claxton said when asked about the differences between last year and this year.

‘The way we’ve been defending, though we’re definitely going to miss him [Durant] out there. I’m going to miss him out there on the defensive end. … Offensively, we’ll figure it out.’

Kyrie Irving’s availability will help the Nets make up for not having Durant on the floor

The Nets will also have Kyrie Irving available on a regular basis, unlike the last time Durant missed an extended period, which will certainly help improve the situation.

Vaughn wouldn’t reveal who would see more minutes in Durant’s absence, but he did say veteran forward TJ Warren won’t play 40 minutes as he continues to recover from foot problems that sidelined him the past two seasons.

However, Vaughn said that no matter who gets more minutes, the Nets will probably have to take more 3-pointers as a group to make up for Durant’s ability to score while using his midrange game.

Veteran TJ Warren won’t be the only player to see an increase in minutes according to Vaughn