Nets still in process of establishing identity

The quarter-life disaster doesn’t get as a lot consideration as its older brother, however it will be comprehensible for the Nets to be doing a little existential pondering proper about now.

By 21 video games — now with greater than one-fourth of the season behind them — who’re the 2021-22 Nets?

The 15-6 file displays they’re elite, and they are going to be atop the Japanese Convention after they play host to Timberwolves on Friday. They’re 7-4 at house, which is okay, and 8-2 on the street, which bodes nicely.

They’re 8-6 towards groups which might be presently .500 or higher, which is extra regarding. In video games towards at the least the early editions of the category of the NBA — the Suns, Warriors, Bucks, Bulls and Wizards — the Nets have gained as soon as in 5 tries and infrequently fallen in lopsided style, which is most regarding.

Is that this a title contender that may be penciled in to the Japanese finals on the backs of Kevin Durant and James Harden? Or is Harden declining and Durant being asked too much of with out the companies of Kyrie Irving, the star they thought they’d be enjoying alongside?

“We’ve a novel problem. We began the season a method — it modified,” coach Steve Nash stated Thursday at observe in Brooklyn, one other day with out the unvaccinated Irving. “We’ve had a bunch of accidents, guys out and in. … In order that makes the method barely elongated.”

Nash repeatedly has stated the workforce is looking for its identification — and earlier than Sport 22, he stated the Nets have been 1 / 4 of the best way to discovering out who they’re. So long as they enter the postseason with an concept of the model, the combos and the personnel they play greatest with, Nash could be glad. They gained’t want to obviously see their reflection till April.

To this point, they’ve purchased in defensively — a top-10 unit that entered play Thursday holding opponents to 42.9 % capturing from the sphere, second-best within the NBA — and surprisingly have been much less efficient offensively, with Harden struggling to regulate to the rule adjustments and nonetheless tinkering with the fitting shoot-pass ratio.

Nash, who typically references a “progress mindset,” stated he desires to develop into a workforce that performs faster, that areas itself out, that will get into the paint, that may dish again out and create two-on-ones.

“That’s once we’re at our greatest. Mixing these personalities, habits and histories collectively so that they perceive the identification,” stated Nash, whose Nets have regarded most uncovered towards proficient groups which might be extra accustomed to enjoying collectively. “I believe everybody understands what we’re making an attempt to do. Now it’s a matter of forming new habits and forming collectively.”

They’re making an attempt to comply with the leads of Durant and Harden, who himself is understanding how the offense ought to work. His play has ticked up not too long ago — together with a 34-point (on 20 attempts), eight-assist night within the Nets’ 112-110 win over the Knicks on Tuesday.

However Harden is capturing 6.2 free throws per recreation, his lowest common for the reason that 2011-12 marketing campaign. He shot 47.1 % from the ground in 36 video games with Brooklyn final season, a mark that’s right down to 41.6 % this yr. One-third of the Large 3 is gone, and one other third has not been himself.

Patty Mills, a newcomer, is aware of how to slot in, and his career-best 47.8 % mark from deep has been essential, particularly in Joe Harris’ absence.

The sharpshooter watched Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker kind their very own Large 3 in San Antonio, and although he stated it’s “apples and oranges,” he has discovered the expertise wants extra time to jell.

“[The Spurs’ trio] wanted one another to have the ability to play that sure approach,” Mills stated. “So it got here loads simpler to them, extra naturally, and clearly being collectively for thus lengthy was one other issue as nicely.”

After the .500 Minnesota membership, the Nets will get one other crack at Chicago, which handed them a 23-point loss final month. Brooklyn will likely be on the lookout for indicators of progress, and seeing groups once more will present extra proof for the way the workforce is coming collectively.

There are all kinds of questions surrounding the Nets, which could obscure the truth that they’re wanting as much as no person.

“In some way we’re atop the East amidst all that, however that’s not my concern,” Nash stated. “My concern is: Are we getting higher?”