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On Sunday the Nets dropped their second recreation of the season to the upstart Charlotte Hornets. They misplaced 111-95 within the residence opener and had been solely capable of muster 47 second half factors, with simply 17 within the 4th. They now sit at simply 1-2. Kevin Durant was not the issue. KD had a recreation excessive 38 factors on 17-of-24 from the sphere to go along with his 5 rebounds, three assists, and a single steal. However the remainder of the staff shot simply 21-of-63 from the ground.
James Harden has flirted with a triple-double in all three video games this season. He doesn’t have one but however he’s filling up the field scores. Harden completed with 15 factors, eight assists and 7 rebounds. The Beard additionally had eight turnovers and 5 private fouls, not his best recreation. However the weirdest a part of all may need been watching a whole basketball recreation the place Harden solely tried a single free throw.
Harden averaged double digit free throw makes an attempt throughout seven seasons of his profession. His final full go-round in Houston he shot 11.8 FTA per contest. This yr? He’s solely averaging three pictures per recreation from the stripe. What offers?
For one factor, the NBA has made it a degree of emphasis to not reward offensive gamers who make “non-basketball” performs.
Bear in mind, simply final season, Nets coach Steve Nash was pissed off with the best way Atlanta Hawks’ star Trae Younger was officiated. It appeared Nash mouthed the phrases “that’s not basketball,” final season while witnessing Younger draw foul after foul on his “break-check transfer.” The one the place he jumps backwards or sideways into defenders:
Trae Younger drew the ire of Nets HC Steve Nash who might have mouthed “that is not basketball”. Attention-grabbing to see how the NBA goes about officiating this shifting ahead #ProIntuition
Vid: https://t.co/TJtStbP2mz pic.twitter.com/zEuMcKYPEB
— Instinct Hoops (@IntuitionHoops) January 2, 2021
After the sport Sunday towards Charlotte, coach Steve Nash was requested about officers not giving Harden calls he’s used to receiving.
“Yeah I believe he’s gotta keep it up,” the pinnacle coach stated encouraging his de facto level guard. “I really feel like he’s unfairly develop into the poster boy of not calling these fouls. However a few of them are undoubtedly fouls nonetheless, however [officials are] simply so alert and conscious and he’s the poster little one of those new [rules]. I get it there’s a line however a few of them are nonetheless fouls. So he’s simply gotta keep it up.”
Kevin Durant definitely didn’t sound worried about it changing into a pattern.
Kevin Durant on James Harden not drawing fouls: “I do not assume rule modifications are affecting anybody’s recreation, to be trustworthy.”
— Matt Brooks (@MattBrooksNBA) October 24, 2021
What about Harden himself, is he involved or pissed off? Harden was requested if he agreed with coach Nash’s evaluation that officers could also be treating him a bit in a different way due to his fame.
“Yeah for positive, however I’m not the sort to complain about it,” stated Harden. “Generally I really feel like coming right into a recreation it’s already predetermined or I have already got that stigma of getting foul calls however I simply ask for officers to name what they see.”
Past the difficulty of not attending to the road, Harden doesn’t fairly seem like he’s 100% but. It’s solely three video games into the yr. And he spent a big portion of his summer time resting and rehabbing a grade two hamstring challenge. It appears he hasn’t regained peak efficiency but.
After the loss, Harden was requested the place he’s at bodily and when it comes to his confidence:
“I’m simply getting my confidence again , I’m a bit of hesitant…. you guys can see it,” The Beard admitted. “Going by means of a number of ups and downs final yr after which coming into coaching camp wholesome, then ensuring my conditioning is the place it wanted to be.”
The Nets star continued:
“Simply ensuring my confidence continues to construct and that’s all that maters,” the 2018 MVP added. “Had been in recreation 3 and hopefully my confidence- nicely not hopefully-but my confidence will rise. It’s going to proceed to get higher as video games go on, I’ll get extra assured, and I [will] get that burst of pace like I’m usually used to. So no worries in any respect.”
It feels like Harden understands that the officers have cracked down on a number of of his methods (just like the one the place he hooks his arm underneath a defender’s with a view to make it seem like he’s being fouled). However he doesn’t appear involved as a result of he is aware of he’s nonetheless going to attract fouls ultimately. He’s too good of a scorer and play-maker to not, defenders typically flail (if not fall) attempting to gradual him down.
It’s fascinating though not shocking to listen to him give an trustworthy evaluation of the place he’s at bodily. He’s not fairly as much as his common requirements and it does sound like that impacts his confidence a bit.
However my hunch is that each he and the Nets have determined to take a conservative method. It’s clever to ramp him up slowly. However when that point comes the place he regains that burst and doesn’t have to fret concerning the hamstring… look out. And who is aware of, perhaps he’ll begin getting a number of extra calls as nicely.
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