Speaking to reporters on Wednesday about his slow start to the season, Nets guard James Harden explained that he’s still shaking off the rust since he didn’t get to play much during an offseason that was mostly spent rehabbing his hamstring injury.
“I had no opportunities to play pickup or nothing this summer,” Harden said, per Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. “Everything was rehab for three months, from a Grade 2 injury that happened three times in one season. So this is my fifth game of trying to just play with competition against somebody else. And as much as I want to rush the process and be back to hooping and killing, (you have to) take your time.”
Harden, who has rarely had to deal with injuries since entering the league in 2009, admitted it was “frustrating” and “draining” to battle the hamstring issue down the stretch last season and over the summer. However, he said that he thinks he’s “getting better every single game.”
Here’s more from around the Eastern Conference:
- Wizards center Daniel Gafford appears to have avoided a major injury after undergoing an MRI on his right quad contusion. Head coach Wes Unseld Jr. said on Thursday that he expects Gafford to be back in a mater of days, not weeks (Twitter link via Ava Wallace of The Washington Post).
- There’s no set timeline for Ben Simmons, who told the Sixers last Friday that he’s not yet mentally ready to play, but he has been at the team’s practice facility during the last week, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. “He’s been working out,” head coach Doc Rivers said on Thursday. “Today he was at shootaround, did a lot of shooting and a lot of stuff with (skills development coach) Spencer (Rivers).”
- With the Raptors set to face the Magic for the first time this season on Friday, the Scottie Barnes/Jalen Suggs debate has resurfaced, but fans in Toronto have to be happy with what they’ve seen from Barnes so far, writes Doug Smith of The Toronto Star. Barnes, whom the Raptors picked over Suggs at No. 4 in this year’s draft, has averaged 17.0 PPG and 8.2 RPG on 53.7% shooting in his first five NBA games while taking on some challenging defensive assignments.
I’m sure Doc’s 26 year old 5pt-per-college-game son will really help Ben’s shot.
Maybe he needs Austin’s help instead of Spencer’s.
When you trying to play NBA games after gaining 25 to 30 lbs of beer and wings from the strip club you’re bound to get injuries.
Exactly. It isn’t a hamstring issue giving Harden issues. He is finally paying the bill for his lifestyle. Go look up Chris Paul’s diet and lifestyle or Tom Brady’s and you can see why Harden won’t age well.
Be the Ball, Ben!!!!
Be the Ball!!!!
3. Make your future. As he played a round of golf with Danny Noonan, Ty Webb provided the film’s most memorable advice—be the ball. “There’s a force in the universe that makes things happen,” he quipped. “And all you have to do is get in touch with it, stop thinking, let things happen, and be the ball.”
Since no one wants to work with Chevy Chase anymore in films or television, then he should be available to be Ben Simmons’ spiritual coach, or whatever.
Well if Bill Murray gets involved.
You’re going way back to their SNL days. Those 2 hated each other.
Last year, the league shot 36.7% from the 3 point line. This year so far the league is shooting 34.4%. That’s the affect of the new rules in the NBA. Once the analytics guys run the new numbers, NBA offenses are gonna change. Is the 3 point era over in the NBA? Well who knows for sure, but the most famous offensive basketball move of the passed 10 years is done. No more step back 3’s. No more heroic 30 footers from Dame. Turns out if the defense can guard closely because dribblers can’t intentionally dribble into their defenders and get calls, that defenses can actually guard the 3 point line. No more wide open 3’s just by taking a step back. With no more unbalanced defenders at the 3 point line, we’re not gonna see nearly as many wide open drives to the basket. Harden is done, toast. Steph Curry’s off to his worst shooting year ever too. How else is this gonna play out???
I like this take all the way down to the Harden part. Harden is not done. Steph shoots half their shots. Wait till Thompson, Wiseman, etc return.
Thank you. I definitely tried to throw out a “hot take”. I’ve been a New Yorker most of my life and I have been very happy to root for Brooklyn the last few years. I was thrilled NYC might finally get an NBA champion. And last year, they played beautiful basketball with Harden at the point. Harden hasn’t signed an extension yet so he’s got 100 million reasons to fix his game. I kinda hope I’m wrong but I’m gonna stick with my prediction.
Honestly. I’d be more worried about Kyrie if I was a Nets fan. Harden is good at all the offensive aspects of basketball. He can find ways to help even if he’s lost a step. I just think he’s not in shape yet. I think they need Kyrie to win it all. Durant is Durant, but the league has some really young athletic teams. They need all 3.
Harden has adjusted several times in his career. He will find a way if he gets in shape.
Interesting to consider rule change effects. I suppose it will help those players with long twitchy reactive arms who in the past, might see their bodies get controlled by a clever opponent looking mostly to draw fouls. So if we get more slap-crap defending, that’s a negative.
But hopefully we will get fewer outrageous calls leading to those long trips to the line for three shots, when the defense was actually well done… (tv broadcasters have started running ads on split screens during these!).
It’s far too early in the season to think that the league average for 3-point shooting will remain below 34.5% for the first time in over 20 years. AD and Westbrook are shooting 14.3% and 17.4% respectively, and there’s simply no way those numbers won’t go up substantially throughout the season.
I disagree but it’s an interesting take.
After what a quarter of the way through the season we are currently off to the worst 3P% since 98/99 but I don’t think it’ll mean the three point shot will ever leave the game.
Having the three point shot has made it easier for centre’s to score inside. Mitchell Robinson just set the record for best FG% for a season, DeAndre Jordan has the best career FG%, with Rudy Gobert second, Clint Capela third and Montrez Harrell fourth.
If you look at other stats for the season, the NBA average steals per game is 8.3, it’s never been this high since 89/99. The average rebounds is 46.4, which hasn’t been that high since 77/78. Lastly the FT attempts per game is at 20, and it hasn’t been that low ever.
So players aren’t getting foul calls, they aren’t shooting as effectively, possibly due to better defence and high steal numbers and this has lead to more rebounds from the missed shots.
I just think this is the natural swing of the game. NBA games have been so much in favour of the offence for years, with some stupid foul calls, a blind eye to travelling, the flopping, etc etc. NBA is trying to remove some of the foul calls and flopping out of he game which makes it better to watch. This makes it harder for some of the offensive players who have worked hard to exploit the rules and benefit from it. Give it a season or two and they will find another way to get better.
Also have to think, every kid coming through has been taught you have to be able to shoot the three. If your a 7 foot centre to a lockdown guard you have to have it in your game. No way it’ll ever disappear because it’s the main skill the next generation are learning.
Sorry long way off quarter of the season
Bradley Beal isn’t helping that stat shooting 1 for 7 from 3.
I will always keep track of the Suggs/Barnes. First I liked Barnes but not Suggs, then as the draft neared, I liked Suggs not Barnes. Then as it played out, Barnes went to a better franchise which had a spot & plan waiting for him, putting him at a big advantage!
Orlando is playing Suggs FT, but he is a player who you want with full charge. PER 4, on/off 24, highly mixed so far, like the team on/off chart with 5 players with very high numbers and rest, very low.
The ORL situation has been ideal for younger Moritz though.
TOR did clearly dodged a bullet there, sure there are no regrets from picking Barnes!
I just think Orlando has to many point guards.
Suggs I think on almost any other team would s better.
Already he’s been listed as a SG in most places, but that’s just not his position and hence why he hasn’t exactly lit it up yet. He’s averaging 11.5-3.5-3.5 shooting absolutely terribly but look at the team. Fultz is a point guard that can’t shoot, Anthony is a score first point guard that’s not exactly lights out at all, RJ Hampton is a point guard that is far from effective shooting the ball too. Then you have Gary Harris not a shooter, Isaacs not a shooter and Carter Jr a limited shooter. Wagner can shoot, Ross can shoot and Bamba can space and shoot a little but not in volume.
I think Orlando need to get rid of Fultz and get in another forward on an expiring deal that can play off ball and hopefully shoot.
Just off the top of my head maybe, TJ Warren? Bagley? Saric?
I agree a Magic guard or two need to go and I’m not sure that Isaac and Wagner ever projects to be the front line of a contender either. They have a lot of young players with potential, so maybe they can cobble together a package to a team that isn’t very deep and send them off for a bigger name.
I gotta say I was worried about the barnes pick thinking masai was reaching trying to find the next giannis based on barnes physique. I know it’s only been a few games but barnes has to be a frontrunner for r.o.y.
beam me up!
#FreeBenSimmons