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When the Brooklyn Nets acquired James Harden final month, NBA observers loudly questioned how the workforce’s three superstars would work collectively.
Kevin Durant’s recreation suits nicely subsequent to Harden and Kyrie Irving. The extra essential query was how Harden and Irving would coexist within the backcourt as two ball-dominant forces who’re used to dealing with the majority of the play-making duties.
If the Nets’ six-game winning streak is any indication, Harden and Irving are figuring issues out fairly nicely.
Irving instructed reporters final week that he and Harden talked to make clear their roles, and Irving mentioned he instructed Harden: “You are the purpose guard, and I will play capturing guard.”
The association has paid dividends within the type of six straight wins, including a 5-0 West Coast swing that marked the longest unbeaten street journey in franchise historical past. The Nets acquired wins over the Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers, all of which got here with out Durant whereas he rests his strained hamstring.
“We had a number of irritating losses,” Harden mentioned defeating the Clippers on Sunday. “We do not need that to hang-out us on the finish of the season. So we determined to, as a workforce, collectively choose it up, every particular person.”
The Nets can be with out Durant once more Tuesday once they return house to face the Sacramento Kings, who’ve misplaced seven in a row. With Harden and Irving clicking so nicely with the remainder of the workforce, they stand probability to increase the win streak whereas letting Durant take as a lot time as he must recuperate.
Listed here are 4 extra key issues to look at Tuesday across the NBA:
All-Star reserves revealed
Prepare for the annual debate about snubs. After the starters were announced last week, the league will reveal the reserves on the TNT NBA Tip-Off present. The coaches deciding on the reserves are within the unenviable place of selecting seven gamers from every convention from a deep pool of candidates that’s certain to go away somebody fuming about his exclusion. Who ought to make the workforce? USA TODAY Sports activities’ Jeff Zillgitt and Mark Medina make their picks here.
Minnesota teaching debut
The Chris Finch era begins in Minnesota with the brand new Timberwolves coach making his debut towards the Milwaukee Bucks. The previous Toronto Raptors assistant can have his work reduce out for him to show issues round after Ryan Saunders was fired. The Wolves have misplaced eight of their final 9 to fall to a league-worst 7-24. They’re twenty third in defensive ranking, twenty eighth in offensive ranking and twenty ninth in web ranking, according to NBA.com.
Assembly of underachievers
The Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks entered 2020-21 with excessive hopes. Neither resides as much as them, and because the first half of the season approaches its finish, it may be essential to rethink our expectations for the Celtics (15-15) and Mavericks (14-15). They meet Tuesday in Dallas with each in want of a strong win. If both workforce desires to be considered as a critical playoff contender, they should begin stacking wins or danger having to battle for a postseason berth within the play-in match.
Reeling in Cleveland
The one workforce with a worse web ranking than Minnesota is the Cleveland Cavaliers, losers of 10 in a row and 14 of their final 16 video games. Only a month in the past, the Cavs’ rebuild seemed to be making good progress. Cleveland was 8-7 after three straight wins, together with two over the Brooklyn Nets during which third-year guard Collin Sexton was sensational. Issues have fallen aside since, however the Cavs will attempt to cease the bleeding towards an Atlanta Hawks workforce that has had its personal current struggles.
Observe Matt Eppers on Twitter @meppers_.
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