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Kevin Durant is second within the NBA in scoring. James Harden is dominating the sport as a lot together with his passing as his factors.
However right here’s the scary factor for the remainder of the league: Steve Nash is satisfied each of his superstars can — and can — get even higher.
Nash stated it doesn’t matter what type of scorching streak Durant is on, the four-time scoring champ continues to be attempting to get fully snug. Durant is coming off an 18-month layoff after rupturing his Achilles in June 2019, and even an excellent 15 video games doesn’t mean he’s 100 percent back.
“Clearly he’s taking part in nice offensively, he’s nonetheless attempting to get snug although,” Nash stated. “That’s how good he’s. He’s only a strolling bucket. He’s on the market on the ground, and he can fall into baskets simply together with his expertise, talent, size, athleticism.
“So he seems to be nice, he’s transferring nice, he’s scoring the ball nicely. I feel he nonetheless has layers to go as he continues to really feel extra snug defensively, rebounding, rounding out his recreation, all of the issues that he’s been capable of do exterior of scoring.”
Durant goes into Friday’s recreation in Oklahoma Metropolis averaging 30.5 factors, having topped 20 in each look this season, the longest run of his profession. The Nets have received seven of the previous eight video games Durant has performed, however Nash cautions there’s still another comfort level for Durant to get again to.
“That confidence, simply feeling snug taking part in basketball once more after such a protracted layoff, takes time,” Nash stated. “Regardless of how good he’s, what number of factors he scores, what number of 30-point video games in a row, I feel he’s nonetheless attempting to really feel it himself. And that takes time.
“You’ll be able to’t simply not play for 18 months, have a brief camp, begin taking part in and really feel it the primary 10, 15 video games. It would take one other 10, 15 video games. So, he’s been outstanding, as a result of — with all these parameters and issues I simply talked about — I nonetheless suppose he’s going to proceed to really feel extra snug, extra assured and spherical out his recreation.”
Harden’s enchancment will solely be partially bodily.
He’s been each attempting to get again to peak bodily situation and discover his method within the Nets’ Massive 3 without stepping on toes or disrupting the team’s chemistry.
Strides have clearly been made in every space the previous week.
“I feel each,” Nash stated. “He’s getting snug together with his environment, however he’s undoubtedly getting in higher form. That’s necessary. He’s simply going to get higher the extra snug he will get and the higher form he will get. If [Wednesday] is any indication, he’s going to have an enormous affect on our group and make different gamers higher.”
Harden is averaging an NBA-high 11.1 assists, however the three-time reigning scoring champ admits he’s been straddling the road of getting to be extra aggressive. Bruce Brown flatly stated when Harden is in assault mode, “We’re unbeatable. We would like him to be aggressive. Generally he’s a bit too passive.”
It wasn’t an issue in Wednesday’s 132-128 additional time win in Atlanta, with Durant (32 factors), Harden (31) and Kyrie Irving (26 factors) the primary Nets trio to every high 25 factors since 2015. However they’re able to making the historic routine, as they learn the way greatest to enhance one another.
Because the Nets construct belief — Harden trusting that he can be aggressive without being disruptive, new teammates trusting one another’s defensive assist — they’re assured they will get to a different degree.
“That’s a fantastic basis is belief to construct any nice group. That undoubtedly takes numerous persistence. Then we’ve got to do it with sacrifice and compromise as nicely. [But] I’m not compromising something by permitting James to be James,” Irving stated. “James goes to be James.
“My factor, every time I’m on the market, is to enhance him, after which the identical factor with Kevin and everybody else. We need to complement one another nicely. So, envy and jealously as younger males are undoubtedly feelings that you could get caught up in, however at this level we don’t need to take this as a right. We all know this doesn’t occur typically. Very fortunate.”
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