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It has been over a month for the reason that Nets made a deal to acquire James Harden from the Rockets. The eight-time All-Star has been a vibrant spot for Brooklyn. With Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving out Tuesday evening, the Nets pulled off the biggest halftime comeback in franchise historical past over the Suns. Harden had 38 factors, 11 assists and 7 rebounds within the win.
There was a lot dialog on how Harden would slot in with Durant and Irving on the roster. Irving told reporters the opposite day that he spoke to Harden about his position on the workforce.
“I really feel like he’s been doing an important job of simply managing the purpose guard position. We established that perhaps 4 days in the past. I simply checked out him and I stated, ‘You’re the purpose guard, and I’m going to play taking pictures guard.’ That was so simple as that.”
After a month for the reason that blockbuster deal, The Crossover employees replicate on the commerce and grade the deal.
Michael Pina: B-
James Harden, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant have solely performed 186 minutes in seven complete video games collectively. In that point they’ve the very best offense in NBA historical past and are outscoring opponents by 8.4 points per 100 possessions. Fairly good. Harden, for his half, leads the league in assists and is posting 50/40/90 splits. First rate.
My grade isn’t an A+ as a result of Brooklyn’s incapacity to get stops within the playoffs stays a priority (it’s 27th in defensive rating since Harden’s Nets debut) and, with Durant and Irving clearly productive sufficient by themselves to prop up a championship offense, forfeiting its greatest rim protector (Jarrett Allen) together with a number of first-round picks/choose swaps in an all-in try and win on the highest stage nonetheless feels a smidge pointless.
Who’s guarding Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo or Anthony Davis in a seven-game sequence, not to mention Bam Adebayo? All that stated perhaps protection received’t matter if no workforce has one that may cease Brooklyn’s three-headed offensive monster.
Rohan Nadkarni: INC.
One month remains to be too quickly to evaluate the Harden commerce for Brooklyn. If you go all in your workforce is judged by what occurs within the playoffs. A end in need of a championship wouldn’t essentially be an automated F, but when this experiment goes bust the Nets higher have a very good cause, significantly with Kevin Durant wanting like his former self put up–Achilles tear. Whereas Harden deserves credit score for becoming into the Nets’ offense, Brooklyn’s defensive points make the workforce distinctive amongst title contenders. A lot can change—together with the roster itself—between now and when the true check begins.
Chris Herring: B
To this point the Nets are performing virtually precisely the way in which I assumed they’d if and once they swung a deal for Harden. However I don’t know if that’s a great factor or not.
With an offense that’s ranked first and a protection that’s ranked twenty seventh since Harden first took the ground for Brooklyn, you recognize what you’re going to get when Brooklyn takes the ground. They’ll rating on everybody however can’t cease anybody. There’s no dependable rim safety; in signing Iman Shumpert and André Roberson, they’re banking on guys who had been out of the league solely till now.
If there’s an upside, although, it’s that the East is there for the taking, anyway. The Bucks aren’t a dominant protection anymore. The Sixers, who drew reward to start out the season for his or her overhauled offense, have gotten up fewer and fewer threes because the yr’s worn on. The Celtics have taken a step again on offense with key wing gamers lacking appreciable time.
And if the Nets can get by means of the East, it’s noteworthy that they’re 6–0 in opposition to golf equipment presently in playoff place within the West.
We’re used to seeing championship groups possess some extent of steadiness, not less than sniffing the highest 10 on either side of the ball. Brooklyn isn’t wired that approach, although. The Nets are constructed to win shootouts evening in and evening out. And with this a lot of a scoring punch they may have what it takes to be the exception slightly than the rule.
Ben Pickman: B+
Harden has slot in properly with the Nets, exhibiting his stellar playmaking capability as each a number one scorer and passer. By means of his first 15 video games with Brooklyn, Harden led the Nets in passes made per recreation (70.1), throwing greater than 20 extra passes per recreation than Kyrie Irving. Harden’s 11.8 assists per recreation with the Nets could be a career-high if it held all through the rest of the yr and his 8.4 rebounds per recreation would even be a career-best.
Harden’s scoring output has dipped to 24.3 factors per recreation with the Nets, however as his 38-point efficiency on Tuesday in opposition to the Suns confirmed, he’s nonetheless greater than able to lighting up opposing protection from across the rim, behind the arc and on the free throw line. Nonetheless it’s arduous for me to present the deal greater than a B+ at this level because the blockbuster commerce can be judged by how the Nets carry out within the postseason.
Unfair or not this workforce has a comparatively temporary title window and contemplating what the Nets gave as much as purchase Harden, postseason success is crucial for the franchise. It’s absolutely going nicely now, however how the workforce gels towards the top of the common season and within the postseason is what everybody is raring to look at.
Elizabeth Swinton: Grade: A-
Although the Large Three have performed simply seven video games collectively, every participant has thus far confirmed that he’s keen to sacrifice for total success. This was an enormous query after the Nets traded for James Harden, however The Beard particularly is flourishing for Brooklyn because the workforce’s main facilitator, highlighted by league-leading 11.3 assists per recreation and 5 triple doubles in 16 video games performed. Although he began his tenure with a concentrate on playmaking over scoring, Harden has improved all through his first month in Brooklyn to be aggressive on the offensive finish whereas protecting his teammates concerned and taking good care of the ball—to not point out he has missed only one recreation whereas Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving have been out sporadically as a result of accidents and COVID-19 protocols.
When it comes to who the Nets gave up within the commerce Brooklyn has missed Jarrett Allen essentially the most—which was to be anticipated. The Nets’ defensive inconsistency continues to be their weak level with groups typically having a feast within the paint and on the boards. Nonetheless Brooklyn has confirmed in latest video games that it may clamp down defensively and have success in its small-ball lineup with extra constant contributions from the bench.
The Nets have had flashes of wanting unbeatable because of the offense, however they’ve additionally appeared weak with an inactive protection. Quite a lot of the workforce’s struggles boil all the way down to effort. Harden’s steadying presence and management have thus far been definitely worth the blockbuster commerce for a Nets workforce with bettering chemistry and championship aspirations.
Michael Shapiro: A
It’s arduous to present the Harden deal something however an A to date. The three-time scoring champion has been nearly as good as marketed in Brooklyn, seamlessly transitioning to pseudo-point guard standing because the Nets discover the optimum utilization for his or her three-headed monster.
Brooklyn is scoring an outrageous 121.4 factors per 100 possessions with Harden on the ground. The Harden-Durant combo sports activities a plus-10.4 offensive score. Harden carried Brooklyn to a comeback win over the Suns on Tuesday with each Durant and Irving sidelined. He racks up double-digit assists when his co-stars are on the ground. Harden’s offensive versatility is the true mark of his brilliance, in a position to fluctuate between secondary possibility and elite scoring dynamo.
The “there’s solely one-ball” considerations concerning Brooklyn’s Large Three had been misguided a month in the past. They’re downright ludicrous now. It is truthful to quibble with the Nets’ defensive woes, a legit roadblock to their Finals aspirations. But it surely’s not as if the Harden acquisition made Brooklyn a poor defensive workforce. Houston’s former famous person is every thing the Nets hoped he’d be, setting the stage for a possible championship run.
Robin Lundberg: A
If you purchase a real famous person and one of many best possible gamers within the recreation, you win a commerce. Interval. So far as James Harden’s match with the Nets to date, I consider just a few issues could have been underestimated when the deal was made. For one factor, Harden brings one thing that neither Kevin Durant nor Kyrie Irving does (not less than to the identical diploma): elite playmaking. In terms of seeing the ground and establishing others, he’s proper on the high of the league with the likes of LeBron James and Chris Paul. And he has rightfully leaned into that side of his recreation in BK.
As well as, he’s dependable. Harden has by no means missed important time as a result of damage and is ready to persistently deal with an enormous minutes load. Subsequently his presence is insurance coverage in opposition to sudden circumstances. After which there’s the truth that regardless of considerations about protection and depth, if the Large Three are on the market, I anticipate the Nets to be taking part in for the championship. So yeah, the Harden deal was a great one.
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