Kyrie Irving outlines Brooklyn Nets point guard duties with James Harden

A month faraway from an earth-shattering commerce, roles in Brooklyn are beginning to crystallize. 

When the Brooklyn Nets acquired James Harden on Jan. 14, questions instantly started to be requested about how he’d slot in alongside Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

Whereas the Nets are a good-but-not-great 9-6 because the Harden commerce ⁠— and the trio has been on the ground collectively for under eight of these contests ⁠— one main uncertainty has been settled: Harden is the staff’s level guard.

Irving revealed as a lot Saturday following Brooklyn’s 134-117 win towards the Golden State Warriors, detailing a dialog the duo had days earlier than that win.

Irving elaborated on the dialogue Sunday, saying it wasn’t as huge of a deal because it may appear from the skin.

“We checked out one another in settlement, and he was like, ‘OK, I am the purpose guard. You are the taking pictures guard,’ and we simply moved on.”

With 16 assists towards the Warriors, Harden doled out probably the most dimes he has had as a member of the Nets, so it was becoming that Irving made the delineation.

Irving is listed as a degree guard, however Harden has largely stuffed the function of facilitator since his transfer to Brooklyn.

Previous to the commerce, Irving averaged 6.1 assists in seven video games for the Nets. With Harden within the fold, that quantity has dipped to five.6.

Irving’s scoring totals have jumped barely in that span, from 27.1 to 27.9 factors per recreation.

Harden, in the meantime, averaged 10.4 assists in eight video games with the Houston Rockets to begin the season.

In 14 video games with Brooklyn, he is dealing 11.6 assists per recreation, although his scoring numbers have dropped.

After averaging 30.4, 36.1 and 34.3 factors per recreation in his final three years in Houston, Harden is averaging 23.0 with Brooklyn.

To the informal observer, it will appear that the function of level guard has fallen to Harden by default, not essentially by decree.

Was Irving’s definition actually mandatory? 

Not in Shannon Sharpe’s eyes.

Skip Bayless echoed the ideas of his “Undisputed” co-host.

“His complete ego and focus is just a bit out of whack, and it might be the undoing of this staff on each ends of the ground. … He desires to run the present, actually, as an govt and a participant. … Steve Nash already instructed [James Harden] he is the purpose guard … you get it.”

However If Irving wished to make the choice appear to be it was his thought, former NBA All-Star Antoine Walker does not see the concession as a significant concern.

In actual fact, Walker stated he believes it is a “nice transfer” for Irving to defer to a ball-dominant operating mate ⁠— just like what he did whereas enjoying alongside LeBron James.

The Nets are greater than one-third of the best way by the NBA’s shortened, 72-game season, and they’re nonetheless understanding the hiccups with their trio of superstars.

Good issues might be coming sooner or later, although, as FOX Bet has Brooklyn because the second-favorite staff to win the title, at +360.

No phrase but on if Irving has something to say about that.

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