The Nets’ two healthy stars had a “breakthrough” performance on Friday, James Harden told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon and other media members. Harden and Kyrie Irving combined for 26 fourth-quarter points against San Antonio. Harden finished with 37 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists.
“For sure, it was a breakthrough,” Harden said. “(Kyrie)’s capable of doing that at any moment and any point in the game. That’s one of the reasons why we need him every single game, because he’s able to do that, especially with everything that’s going on with our team. But he’s able and more than capable of doing things like that whenever he wants. I think he just tries to get us involved a little bit more, but he’s a special talent.”
Of course, Irving can only play half the time due his unvaccinated status. Kevin Durant is sidelined by a knee injury and there’s no timetable for his return.
We have more on the New York teams:
- There are all kinds of issues with the Knicks these days, including the lack of production from guards Alec Burks and Immanuel Quickley, Marc Berman of the New York Post notes. Burks signed a three-year, $30MM contract during the offseason and Quickley is on his rookie deal. They’ve tanked during the current three-game losing streak, shooting 22-for-77 (30.6%) from the field.
- The Nets are reportedly looking for a way to deal Paul Millsap, who hasn’t been able to crack the rotation. That’s due to the increase in minutes for young players Nic Claxton and Day’Ron Sharpe, Brian Lewis of the New York Post writes. That has made it difficult for coach Steve Nash to fit in the numerous frontcourt veterans dotting the roster. “Just a difficult situation that we didn’t necessarily foresee, but here we are,” Nash said. “And Day’Ron and Nic have emerged.”
- Spurs coach Gregg Popovich offered high praise for two of his former players, the Nets’ Patty Mills and LaMarcus Aldridge, Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News relays (Twitter links). Of Mills, Popovich said, “he’s always positive, a consummate pro in preparing for his job, gives everything he has in every practice and every game, supports everybody on the team and in the organization.” Regarding Aldridge, Popovich said, “LA did all the community things Patty did….He just did it quietly. … He was a great teammate with everybody, a heck of a player.”
“Breakthrough”?? Gimme a break…. They are not reliable and trustworthy. They are bound to be another “heartbreak”!
Yes easy to ‘break through’ on one of the worst teams in the league, Pops or no Pops.
Harden has been playing not very harden like, and kyrie is such a talent his off the court stuff used to bug me a lot but ever since he got to Brooklyn it’s hard to watch him play and not appreciate what a special talent the guy is
2 Knicks guards shoot 33 percent over a 3 game stretch and it not only makes the Post but the story gets reported as though it’s a story of some sort?
MLB is in an offseason lockout and I still get better stories about the Yankees.
Does the post still pay Berman or is this a protest piece because they put him on commission?
Question: can the Bulls slot Millsap into their trade exception?
Yes, millsap is on a minimum and the trade exception is for 5 mil, however I don’t think the bulls will get him because they cannot trade a 2nd rounder until the tampering penalty is paid and the next bulls second rounder is 2027, the bulls have Derrick Jones Jr on an expiring 9.7 mil deal, Portland’s protected first round pick, and possibly Troy brown? But they really have no other traceable assets, I find it highly unlikely that Patrick Williams or Coby White move and Chicago will never trade Ayo due to him growing up around the way
They wouldn’t need to use a trade exception to acquire him — he’s on a one-year, minimum-salary deal, so (or any other team) could just use the minimum salary exception.
nets, just pay the fines so he can play the home games.
Berman always shoots down Knicks. He expects more readership that way. Truth is they are a mess right now. To me it’s still same old problem. No real PG to run team. And Randle thinking he’s Magic. It’s a stand around offense. No player movement at all. Just throwing up threes. Wake up Thibs. They will start to turn on you sir.