Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets are a walking NBA cheat code

The Nets are ridiculous.

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Well, the NBA playoffs were fun while they lasted, weren’t they?

I know, I know. We’re only in the second round and things are far from being technically over but let’s face the facts here – the Brooklyn Nets are going to be the champs when all is said and done next month.

Did you see what they did to the Bucks last night? It was equal parts wildly impressive for the Nets and wildly embarrassing for the Bucks. Brooklyn won the game, 125-86, but it really felt like a 400-point victory because Giannis Antetokounmpo and Co. were never close to being in it.

We all knew when the Nets landed Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant that they would be a very, very good team once those two stars were healthy and playing together. Then they went out and added James Harden this season and it felt like this team might be very special if the three stars could figure out a way to play together.

Well, Harden didn’t even play last night with a hamstring injury and the Nets had no problem thumping what’s supposed to be a title-contending Bucks team that continues to struggle in big playoff series.

Imagine what Brooklyn will be like when Harden returns?

Good grief.

Oh, and did you see Blake Griffin last night? He only had seven points but four of those came off two very impressive dunks that had him looking like he was 25 years old again.

There have already been a lot of good stories in the playoffs thus far. The Suns beat LeBron James and the Lakers in the first round and looked really good in front of a wild crowd last in their Game 1 win over the Nuggets in Phoenix.

Trae Young and the Hawks took down the Knicks in the first round and have a 1-0 lead over the Sixers, who are the No. 1 seed in the East.

Kawhi Leonard is back to doing Kawhi Leonard things in the playoffs.

That’s all really fun stuff.

But come on – nobody is touching this Nets moving forward. I think when these playoffs are over we’ll look back at the Nets’ run and be the most surprised about how they lost a game to Boston in the first round. To Boston!

Durant is back to being healthy and didn’t enjoy a question last night about his old injury. He’s the dominant guy he’s always been in his career and now he’s hungry as you-know-what to win a championship without Steph Curry and Co.

Kyrie Irving is locked in and being his normal dominant self, too.

Harden should be back eventually and is one of the greatest scorers we’ve ever seen.

Blake Griffin appears to be able to still be very good in spurts

Bruce Brown is showing that he can make plays and be a factor when the other guys need some help.

This all has to lead to the Nets rolling to a title. It won’t be a surprise when they do – this was their plan when they added the three stars.

But it will be an impressive and likely historic run, nonetheless.

Quick hits: Bruins coach blasts refs… JMU pitcher gets love from fans… Pro golfer’s emotional post-win interview… And more. 

– Boston Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy will probably be fined by the NHL for his rant about the refs after last night’s loss to the Saints. I mean the Islanders.

– JMU pitcher Odicci Alexander rightfully got a lot of love from fans after her final college softball game.

– This video of an emotional pro golfer talking about his late mom after his first win is so special.

– Steven Ruiz explains why Julio Jones does not make the Titans a legit Super Bowl contender.

– This video shows Floyd Mayweather may have actually knocked out Logan Paul on Sunday night.