Nets star James Harden suffered a right hamstring injury early in tonight’s opener of the Eastern Conference semifinals and has been ruled out for the rest of the game, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic.
On the TNT telecast, Jared Greenberg reported that Harden has left Barclays Center to have an MRI on the hamstring, relays Ian Begley of SNY.TV (Twitter link).
Harden got hurt on his first drive to the basket, according to Brian Lewis of The New York Post. He passed the ball to Joe Harris in the corner, then grabbed at his right leg in pain. He slowly walked to the locker room as Brooklyn coach Steve Nash called timeout 43 seconds into the game.
Injuries have been an issue for the Nets’ Big Three, who played together just a handful of times in the regular season after Harden was acquired from the Rockets in mid-January. Harden played a career-low 44 games this season, missing more than a month of action in April and May with a strained right hamstring.
Go read the previous post and this one back to back for the most “life comes at you fast” effect.
I’m neither a Harden fan or detractor, so just asking… Do I remember correctly that part of Harden’s efforts to get out of Houston early in the season included his being in poor physical condition?
Why, yes they were.
His whole season is a classic case of a skillset shining through a broken body, but the broken body will always betray you. Mind over matter does not work here.
Again, not being a fan or detractor, another legit question (I doubt I’ll be the only one to wonder) – Did that contribute to his injury-riddled season?
Correct
Get ready next season to know how it feels yet again when both Curry and Klay miss a large number of games while their team struggles to stay near .500 with the largest payroll in NBA history.
You get triggered so easily by real teams that can actually win championships it’s embarrassing bud
Did Harden being a fat 30 something contribute to him pulling a hammy?
Anything’s possible
Harden will always be Harden. Very consistent history.
Ouch this could hurt but almost every team is facing injuries of some sort. The other guys will just have to step up, that’s all there is to it.
Both teams in this series have gone all out with the roster and salaries. If either team loses what do you do next? Lot of big salaries and do you just add a piece here and there and run it back? Wouldn’t look good to lose in the second round but one of these teams will.
Milwaukee is definitely built to last a bit here, if not this year, they will most likely win a title in at some point during Giannis’s deal. At their point it’s just about having the right veterans at the end of the bench and luck.
Brooklyn however…I don’t know, honestly. The way that team came together so fast and with all the big names out there this offseason, it’s so hard to tell if they will continue on with the 3 elite player, top heavy roster, or if they will move on from Harden and replace him with 2-4 quality players and have a more balanced roster.
Budenloozer to ORL next year …
Let’s just assume Harden is done — which seems likely. I actually think the pressure is more on Milwaukee. They just got smoked G1 with no Harden.
They need to win this series (again assuming Harden is MIA). Otherwise how could you possibly delude yourself into thinking this is a championship roster?
Brooklyn? F*** it. They have two top 5 guys. Plus Flat Earth. Plus Harris bombing from everywhere. It’s a no brainer to run this back. What better option is there?
How is exactly is Milwaukee built to last? They had the best record in the NBA last year, yet lost to Miami in the second round in 5 games. They also had the best record in the NBA two years ago, and lost to the Raptors in the ECF in 6 games. This team isn’t built to last, it’s built to underachieve. Can’t even win with Harden hurt.
That was a close loss to TOR, who had a Giannis plan.
The bubble was held in an asylum… results have not held up this more normal year.
You would be the expert on teams winning a lot of games in the regular season and then coming up short in the playoffs.
Whoever is the healthy team will win this match up.
The Harden trade is looking better all the time for Houston, as well as the Oladipo trade that followed it. At present the Rockets ended up with Kelly Olynyk, plus the Harden trade also allowed them to get Kevin Porter Jr. for basically nothing.
Neither Dante Exum nor Avery Bradley are worth much, if anything. But the Rockets also got 4 first round picks, and 4 future swaps (not including the one from Brooklyn this year). Next year (2022) they get Brooklyn’s pick and can swap it for Miami’s pick. Then they get Milwaukee’s pick in 2023 and can swap their own pick with Brooklyn. They get the Nets picks in 2024 and 2026, and swaps in 2025 and 2027.
The only good thing that happened to the Rockets this year was signing Wood so he can be traded this offseason.
That you’re here bragging up trading Harden for 4 firsts in the 20-30 range is sad.
He’s a classic Homer that doesn’t deal in reality. Needs another nine change. After changing it three times already……..
I agree trading Wood. Especially if they get a top pick in draft. Lime Mobley, I move Wood next day. Celtics would give a nice package for Wood. He fits them nicely at center.
Post-game… the Nets look to be getting the calls, at least in the 3rd qtr.
Am I unbiased?— pretty much. First I predicted the Bucks, because I guess, then after the deadline the Nets. Look how much value the Nets are getting from Griffin making peanuts. He is the Giannis-defender. Who else for that job?— GA would foul out Claxton.
Must admit as a Midwesterner I am used to rooting for MIL.
Bucks gotta win game 1, especially with Harden being out. Middleton of course went back to his Middlechild with his underperformance…
Close game through the first half… Nets got the calls in the 2nd half, Bud made no adjustments, and starting 4/24 from 3 isn’t going to win games.
Both teams will be running it back for next year, though if the Bucks go out, they should be doing it with a new coach.
Hamstrings don’t heal well. All you who played sports know this. It always comes back in some way. He’s done for playoffs. He may try and play again. But he’s not going to heal now miraculously. His season is OVER. Now Bucks better wake up. How do you lose when you see him leave. Insane lols. And post KD all day. All day especially if he thinks he can guard Giannis. Post him all day. How many times must I say it. All day
Agreed Al. Last time I did mine I sat out three months just to make sure. I remember Clyde Drexler one year in the 90s had a problem with his hamstring, he came back too early and he was done for the year. Ruined his whole season.
You can come back and give it a try but there’s always those little reminder tweaks that prevent you from going full speed.