The NBA has only seen a glimpse of what Kevin Durant and James Harden are capable of, Nets coach Steve Nash tells Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Durant ranks second in the league in scoring at 30.5 PPG, while Harden is first in assists at 11.1 per game, and Nash expects them to improve as they develop chemistry together. He notes that Durant is still finding his game after missing 18 months with a ruptured Achilles.
“Obviously he’s playing great offensively, he’s still trying to get comfortable though,” Nash said. “That’s how good he is. He’s just a walking bucket. He’s out there on the floor, and he can fall into baskets just with his talent, skill, length, athleticism. So he looks great, he’s moving great, he’s scoring the ball well. I think he still has layers to go as he continues to feel more comfortable defensively, rebounding, rounding out his game, all the things that he’s been able to do outside of scoring.”
Harden is still working his way back into shape after missing the start of training camp and going through a disruptive situation in Houston. He’s also getting to know his new teammates after being in Brooklyn a little more than two weeks.
“He’s getting comfortable with his surroundings, but he’s definitely getting in better shape,” Nash said. “That’s important. He’s just going to get better the more comfortable he gets and the better shape he gets.”
There’s more from Brooklyn:
- The Nets have been successful since forming their Big Three, but there are concerns that the stars are playing too many minutes, Lewis adds in a separate story. Harden leads the NBA at 38.5 minutes per game, with Durant third at 36.8 and Kyrie Irving close behind at 35.7. “Long term, I don’t like it. I would err on the side of saying it’s not sustainable,” Nash said. “But at the same time, we are where we are right now with a little bit of a depth or a second-unit synchronicity (issue). We’re kind of caught in between. But that’s a problem that we are trying to solve and thinking of different ways to solve it.”
- Brooklyn’s new deal with Norvel Pelle is non-guaranteed, tweets Bobby Marks of ESPN, who notes that the league-wide guarantee date is February 24. Players waived after that date will have their salaries locked in for the rest of the season.
- The Nets’ G League affiliate announced its roster this week for the bubble in Orlando. It will include two-way players Reggie Perry and Chris Chiozza.
Harden is averaging 11 shots a game in 4 games with Kyrie. Thats ridiculous and I dont know how long it can last.
Harden can handle playing 35-40 MPG.
…and then looks flat in the playoffs.
And that will be a problem for him, KD, and Kyrie this year if all 3 of them have to keep playing heavy minutes between now and the end of the regular season.
*skipping training camp
Is it two weeks since the Harden trade was made official? I believe the Nets were required to fill two of their three open roster spots within 14 days of the trade becoming official. I’ve only heard about Norvel Pelle and, apparently, the Nets decided to keep their two-ways that way.
“Harden is still working his way back into shape, after missing the start of training camp, and going through a disruptive situation in Houston”.
Skipping training camp to force a trade, and not running laps with all the extra days off he received, and showing some professionalism, and personal responsibility.
If Fertitta said I will never trade you, or it was a pissing contest of some kind, I take back all my lazy insinuations & criticisms of Harden stated above.
Harden has been playing to fit in. That’s a good sign for Nets. Their offense has looked good. And probably will only be tested in playoffs. Their D is what needs help. Their D and depth needs help after trade. IMO they are not coming out of East if they don’t get help for their D. Nets can still do something major. If they decide to trade Dinwiddie. He has plenty of value.
He actually may be more valuable to the Nets if he stays. The Nets were granted the DPE regardless of whether he returns. From what I saw in a video, it looks like he’s making incredible progress in his rehab. He could even return this season. He has the option to return next season for $13M, I believe. He probably will accept it. If he does and is healthy next season, the Nets’ chances may even be better next season than this one.
Dinwiddie puts them over the top, with solid, filler, role players.