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Since James Harden was dealt to the Nets, the crew is 7-3 – sitting at an general document of 14-9 on the season and second place within the Japanese Convention, solely two video games behind the Philadelphia 76ers.
On Tuesday, Brooklyn picked up their greatest win of the season to date, taking down the league’s finest crew (record-wise), the Los Angeles Clippers. Submit-game, which was the Sport of the Night time on TNT and the sport of the 12 months to followers, Harden defined how he and the Nets needed to return out and “not embarrass ourselves.”
They usually did.
“That we’re enjoying the most effective groups within the league so we received to return out right here and never embarrass ourselves,” Harden mentioned following the win. “We performed like that on each ends of the ball. I don’t suppose as a crew, we don’t have that very same mindset each single sport. As soon as we get that, we are going to see a special Nets crew.”
Each single sport goes to matter. That’s what it takes to play the final sport of the season. Brooklyn has performed very nicely towards prime groups within the NBA this season. In truth, following the Nets win over the Clippers, Brooklyn is 10-3 towards over .500 groups. There’s a catch. On the opposite aspect of the ledger, the Nets are 4-6 towards groups who sit at below .500.
When Harden was requested to discuss that “mindset” he was alluding to, Harden says all of it begins with particular person effort and for every participant to embrace their function and get the job performed collectively as a crew.
“Particular person,” Harden mentioned. “We received to have a look at our personal self within the mirror and what we do, what we contribute to this crew, and attempt to do it each single evening. As I mentioned, clearly we make errors individually but when now we have the proper mindset and need to do the proper issues – greater than not, we will get it performed as a crew collectively. Tonight we gained and even these final couple video games earlier than Washington, now we have been enjoying nicely apart from that OKC sport the place we gave up a number of factors.”
As for Harden, it’s clear that he has embraced the sacrifice wanted for achievement: facilitating over scoring since his arrival to the Nets. Whereas the 31-year-old continues to be averaging 24.4 factors and proven he can flip his scoring change at any second, he spoke about how not many gamers can change up their whole sport and deal with different issues for the good thing about crew success. “The Beard” is averaging an NBA-leading 11.2 assists per sport … and has 4 triple-doubles in his final 9 video games.
“Simply coming into this crew, clearly main the league in scoring the previous few years, not many gamers can simply attempt to change up their whole sport and deal with different issues. Not many gamers can. Me, I do know the roster. I do know what now we have on this crew and scoring isn’t all the things,” Harden mentioned about being a multidimensional participant. “I attempt to impression the sport in different methods. I attempt to get my shooters concerned. Clearly, Kevin and Kai will get their simpler appears to be like once they can. Getting our bigs straightforward touches across the rim.”
It’s no secret that the Nets system for achievement is determining the defensive finish. It’s anticipated that Brooklyn will add a frontcourt assist, ideally a 5, to fill their last roster spot, Harden mentioned that every participant will must be purchased in defensively on a constant foundation. As well as, “The Beard” sees the Nets enjoying on the final sport, in different phrases, the NBA Finals, in the event that they succeed on that finish of the ground.
“It’ll be on the defensive finish,” Harden mentioned. “Offensively, we’re the most effective groups on this league. If we man up and get stops individually and our ideas, now we have one another’s again on a constant foundation. As soon as we get that down pack defensively and speaking about blowing groups out trigger offensively, we are going to proceed to determine it out however defensively, now we have to determine it out. That’s what it needs to be to ensure that us to be enjoying on the finish.”
Harden needs to embrace any problem Nash and the Nets teaching employees throw at him defensively. In the long run, he needs to do no matter it takes to win.
“Then defensively, getting after it. Taking upon a problem whether or not coach makes me guard that evening and tackle a problem to make it robust on them each single evening so it isn’t about factors for me and it’s not about stats for me. It’s about getting the win and I believe since I’ve been right here, I strive no matter it takes for us to win and that’s all that issues.”
Steve Nash mentioned it finest following the win towards the Clippers. The pinnacle coach mentioned it was nice to see his crew play nicely defensively nevertheless it needs to be that approach if the Nets need to contend.
“Nice to see and it’s received to be that approach if we’re critical about this,” Nash mentioned in regards to the Nets Massive Three and the crew’s protection shifting ahead. “We’ve got the posh of offensive expertise however now we have to defend. That could be a actually troublesome crew to defend and we did a fantastic job. Once more, it’s tough when the groups are consistently taking 20 extra pictures than you might be however we can be enjoying up and maintain getting higher however once they play with the hassle they did tonight, we can be robust to beat.”
The Nets have had their eyes set on enhancing that No. 1 precedence courting again to the beginning of coaching camp — with various outcomes, however the crew doesn’t have the posh of 1 standard repair: sufficient follow time to work on it.
Harden, like Nash has mentioned all through the season, said how Brooklyn makes use of every sport to construct as a crew. From general chemistry and rising as a crew to bringing that mindset to every sport, when all of it comes collectively persistently – we are going to see progress.
“We’re utilizing the season to get higher clearly and win each single sport however we’re utilizing the season, every sport, to get to know one another, develop as a crew, construct chemistry, and simply get on the identical web page,” Harden mentioned. “Some video games are going to be higher than others however I believe general, that very same mindset we had tonight, we received to have that very same mindset each single sport regardless of who we’re enjoying. That’s when you will note some progress out of all of us.”
Nash likes what he sees and hears from Harden.
“Largely it’s been nice. He’s an unimaginable participant,” Nash mentioned. “I do know we see his scoring and playmaking potential, however his intelligence is particular, defensively as nicely. He sees it, he reads it, he has an understanding at that finish of the ground as nicely.
“So I believe he’s able the place he’s grateful for this chance. He needs to win, and he’s keen to sacrifice, and so his management has been nice.”
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