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The Brooklyn Nets proceed their free fall within the standings. They’ve now misplaced six consecutive video games and sit at 29-22. However this one, a 112-101 loss to Tyrese Haliburton and the Sacramento Kings, is up there with their worst L’s of the season.
Brooklyn drops now to sixth place within the East, 1.5 video games out of the dreaded seventh seed.
On the second night time of a again to again, nursing a strained hand, Harden performed maybe his worst sport of the season. It might need been his worst sport in a few years. The Beard completed with simply 4 factors, 12 assists, and eight rebounds. You might need to return to his Oklahoma days to discover a decrease level complete.
James Harden completed with 4 factors & 6 turnovers within the Nets 112-101 loss on the Kings. It marks the first time in Harden’s 921 profession video games he is completed w/ extra turnovers than factors. He is finished it as soon as in 137 profession playoff video games (His 1st profession playoff sport: 1 TO, 0 pts). #NBA
— Adam Wexler (@AdamJWexler) February 3, 2022
There’s no Joe Harris, there’ no Kevin Durant, or LaMarcus Aldridge, Harden isn’t 100%. Who’s as of late? Nonetheless, six video games in a row is a whole lot of L’s to take for a group with arguably one of the best backcourt duo in all the league.
“I imply who is aware of.”
James Harden was requested if he handled fatigue. He additionally added that his hand wasn’t bothering him.
— DaveEarly (@DavidEarly) February 3, 2022
What’s been the problem these days?
“I feel it’s every part, a bit little bit of every part,” mentioned a visibly annoyed Harden. So what can they do to repair it?
“Hold chipping away, sooner or later at a time, that’s all you are able to do. Come collectively nearer, even tighter, it’s positively irritating, it’s positively troublesome, however we gotta discover a approach to get out of it as a bunch.”
Have they thought of a “gamers solely” assembly or one thing like that? “Uh, no, I feel we’ve finished an excessive amount of speaking. I feel we’ve finished an excessive amount of speaking, we simply, we gotta go on the market and do it. And do it persistently. You recognize we have now instances the place we’re nice, and we have now instances we’re actually unhealthy and we simply gotta discover some consistency all through the course of video games, extra instances than not.”
However why hasn’t that consistency been there?
“We simply received a whole lot of various things internally, lineups, we haven’t had no continuity but so it’s simply a type of issues the place you simply gotta hold going, nothing else to do, hold going, hold pushing ahead.”
This reply might completely, positively be nothing. Just a few banal, mundane boring previous post-game cliches spouted by a annoyed participant exhausted from a protracted highway journey, making an attempt to not complain that his hand hurts. That might very properly be the case right here. However with so many rumors swirling concerning the ASU product’s wandering eye, and stories that he has “elevated curiosity” in exploring free company by summer season, every part the seven time All-NBA star says takes on an entire new that means.
“We simply received a whole lot of various things internally, lineups, we have not had no continuity but so ….
Have they hit a breaking level with all of the setbacks?
“I dunno, I’ve by no means had a six sport shedding streak, I do know that.”
-James Harden was annoyed after loss to the Kings. pic.twitter.com/z9tGgvaQTq
— DaveEarly (@DavidEarly) February 3, 2022
An article by Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report specifically cited some frustrations Harden’s camp had with end of game lineups. So is that what Harden means when he says “lineups?” Or does he completely imply the accidents and COVID absences? And what does he imply “we simply received a whole lot of various things internally?” Inside points are by no means good, proper?
Might that be a reference to some frustrations Fischer reported on relating to a sure celebrity teammate’s part-time standing? Have there been tensions behind closed doorways? It seems that Harden begins that quote (hear for your self on the clip above) by saying “you recognize simply pretty much as good as I do,” which could suggest that is stuff reporters might already concentrate on; and never some secret battle.
So once more, it might all be nothing in any respect. You get the purpose. With the looming specter of Harden’s departure hanging over this group, each throwaway remark turns into fodder for dissection. I can give you up some theories, however that’s all they’d be. Followers of mayhem have already concocted their very own interpretations. Simply take a look at a few of these replies within the tweet posted above. Everybody has a principle on what’s happening with the Nets, and particularly with the 2018 MVP.
There are like 3 situations with Harden:
1) he’s enjoying via an damage, which ought to concern the Nets contemplating his reported lack of take care of his physique
2) He’s checked out
3) he’s simply declining, which then possibly the Nets are justified for not giving him the cash he needs
— Austin Krell (@NBAKrell) February 3, 2022
Harden was requested if the group has possibly hit a breaking level with Nets teammate Kyrie Kyrie out and in of the lineup and Kevin Durant being out with a knee sprain.
‘I dunno, I’ve by no means had a six sport shedding streak, I do know that.” Nicely that’s not precisely a tough “no” on the breaking level angle.
Irrespective of how unhealthy issues get, Kevin Durant’s return ought to make a whole lot of issues higher. That might come put up All-Star Break. Joe Harris might need an analogous timetable. However it could not make the group really feel nice having to financial institution on Slim Reaper to play savior. That is one thing to control.
These is perhaps scary hours for the Nets, and never the great form. Or it might all be one thing we glance again on and say “man, bear in mind when followers have been all freaking out however none of it mattered ’trigger they went on to win the championship then all signed long-term offers?”
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