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The Brooklyn Nets (now 12-5) are in sole possession of first place. The Nets hosted the final place, (now 4-12) Orlando Magic, however Brooklyn was very short-handed so it was no cake stroll. James Harden was capable of lead a short-handed Nets squad by exorcising a few of his early-season demons. He obtained to the free throw line early and infrequently. Harden completed with 36 factors, 8 assists, 10 rebounds, and whereas he was solely 7 of 25 from the ground, he knocked down 19 of 20 free throws; together with a pair late which made it a four-point recreation because the Barclays devoted serenaded the previous MVP with some acquainted MVP chants. This season it’s often Kevin Durant who hears these however tonight was The Beard’s night time.
After the sport Harden’s crew had some fascinating reactions to his free throw parade.
Kevin Durant missed his first recreation of the season with the shoulder problem that has bugged him since a loss to the Chicago Bulls in early. Earlier than the sport, Steve Nash supplied an replace on that scenario. The Nets have been already with out Paul Millsap (private causes), Joe Harris (ankle), Nic Claxton (non-COVID sickness) and through the recreation Bruce Brown left with a brand new (being known as a hamstring) damage.
However they nonetheless had Harden, LaMarcus Aldridge, and obtained some shock contributions from of us like James Johnson (17 factors, 10 rebounds) and Patty Mills (22 factors) off the bench.
One main story this season has been Harden’s sluggish begin and the way the brand new guidelines (and his return from a hamstring damage he sustained final season) aimed toward non-basketball performs have restricted his effectivity. However he’s been attending to the road extra lately. He has 63 whole free throw makes an attempt in his final 5 outings. His 20 free throw makes an attempt on Friday was a season excessive as have been the 19 makes.
Requested after the sport if he has seen a distinction in the best way his teammate is being officiated, or how Harden is attacking, Patty Mills stated he beloved how James was getting downhill.
“Simply taking part in downhill and with the ability to get paint touches,” stated Mills. “He’s clearly being robust with the ball too and figuring out that if he doesn’t get the decision he can play by means of it and nonetheless make the layup, or make the floater, or make the cross. However each time he’s capable of get into the paint nice issues occur for us.”
What about coach Nash, does he suppose Harden is attending to the road extra lately as a result of the refs are altering their methods or as a result of Harden is having extra success attending to his spots recently? “I believe each,” stated the Nets coach. “I do suppose although that the referees are beginning to determine what’s nonetheless a foul. What’s nonetheless a basketball foul and whats a non-basketball play or regardless of the mandate says. I believe early it was tough for them to know the place the road was.”
As for Harden himself, he didn’t need to speak in regards to the topic in any respect. It looks like some wonderful advantageous avoidance for the reason that NBA makes gamers pay for criticizing the officers even once they deserve it.
“I don’t wanna discuss no free throws. I’m simply attempting to assault the basket,” stated Harden, diplomatically. He has tried at the very least eleven freebies in 4 of the Nets’ final 5 video games.
His head coach didn’t simply suppose it was the refs settling in to a brand new regular. He additionally likes what he’s seeing from his star.
“He’s such a tough man to cowl along with his measurement, pace, quickness,” praised Nash. “Capability to shoot over anybody from 3 that guys need to get too near him after which he’s so robust that when he will get a slight angle on you or a step on you it’s virtually not possible to not foul him. It’s both get out of the best way otherwise you’re gonna draw contact, so you recognize that’s what makes him good is his potential to penetrate, to take contact, and to have the ability to dictate what occurs when the contact occurs.”
Harden has had breakout video games earlier than this season. He obtained up 19 free throws in a single win over the Pacers again on October twenty ninth. However then over his subsequent six video games he solely obtained 21 free throw makes an attempt. So he’s been a bit inconsistent. But when he’s going to proceed taking part in this manner, and placing stress on opposing defenses, the Nets can really construct on a file that already has them in first place. Possibly it wouldn’t precisely be “scary instances” till Kyrie Irving got here again. But it surely could be at the very least nervous instances. He looks like he could be rounding into kind a bit right here.
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