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The Nets rebounded from a demoralizing blowout loss to NBA-best Golden State with a win over the Cavaliers within the second a part of a house back-to-back on Wednesday. That was good so far as it went.
However the reality is that the Nets (10-5) are in a troublesome stretch of their schedule. They have been scheduled to play their ninth sport in 15 nights towards the Magic (4-11) Friday evening at Barclays Heart. Then they get two days off earlier than a Monday evening sport in Cleveland.
“I knew we have been taking part in so much, however I suppose that’s type of what they gave us,” James Harden stated of the NBA schedule. “Clearly, Joe [Harris] happening with an ankle sprain and [Paul Millsap] along with his household, it’s been troublesome simply because we’re restricted on our bodies.
“Once we do get actually good begins and go on actually good runs, it’s extra essential to complete video games off the correct approach so we are able to get our correct relaxation when wanted.”
Harris is anticipated to overlook a number of extra video games. There isn’t a timetable for the return of Millsap, who has performed restricted minutes regardless of his All-Star resume.
For the Nets, it nonetheless comes right down to Harden and Kevin Durant, the 2 superstars who’re eligible to play on a roster lacking Kyrie Irving, who’s out as a result of he has not complied with the New York Metropolis vaccine mandate.
Harden needed to snicker after a 37-minute outing towards the Cavaliers that was solely his fourth-highest output this season.
“You’re taking part in all of the rattling time,” Harden stated. “I believe if Kevin or I don’t play, it’s not like we’re already down numbers…We simply obtained to proceed combating, man. Discover methods to come back away with wins, discover methods to maintain enhancing on each ends of the ball.
“It’s an extended season. There will probably be a whole lot of ups and downs, however I really feel like we’re in somewhat little bit of a funk proper now in a way of simply every thing. However we win and maintain going.”
Nash was requested if the problem at this level in a grueling schedule is psychological or bodily, and he boiled it down. “It’s each,” he stated.
On the identical time. The Nets with Durant and Harden have sufficient firepower to prevail in a troublesome stretch of schedule. The 33-year-old Durant is averaging 28.6 factors, the third-best of his profession and second within the NBA this season, and his 34.7 minutes per sport is just the eighth-most of his profession.
The 32-year-old Harden has performed 34.4 minutes per sport, however that ranks twelfth in his 13-year profession, and he’s taking pictures a career-high 39.5% from three-point vary. However, his 20.3 scoring common is just tenth in his profession and his 4.9 turnovers is third-worst in his profession.
Harden was completely satisfied the Nets got here again to beat the Cavaliers after getting blown out by Golden State the earlier evening, however he faulted the Nets for a poor third quarter that allow the Cavs again within the sport.
“Second half, we simply had a meltdown,” Harden stated. “They capitalized, they made photographs. The nice factor is we come away with the win, and we’ve simply obtained to proceed to maintain enhancing. No excuses.
“We simply have to determine what was working, what’s been going good for us and proceed to do this to the most effective of our means. It wasn’t a superb displaying for 4 quarters, however we got here away with the win, and we simply obtained to maintain pushing ahead.”
Greg Logan has labored for Newsday since 1982 overlaying a wide selection of sports activities and occasions, at the moment together with the Brooklyn Nets beat.
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