I am aware that the Nets have looked like world beaters with Harden and I still have my doubts about them in the playoffs.
Their offense with Harden is world beater. Their defense with or without Harden is world trash. If they fail in the playoffs, it will be two things: defense and injuries
Guarantee you that Silver and almost every ad partner for NBA games wants LeBron/AD vs KD/Kyrie/Harden.
Here's why you're wrong ^ Harden's playmaking and ability to control a game down the stretch has been pivotal.
they probably should win, but they feel like the first heat team. they might have the ability to just overwhelm on talent (the heat nearly did if lebron didn't choke), but they just don't feel like a title winner. if you told me the bucks would score 130+ on them and they couldn't keep up, that wouldn't surprise me. if you told me embiid goes crazy on them and they can't quite overwhelm simmons and thybulle's defense, that wouldn't be crazy. and kind of like the first heat team, i think their fallback will just be iso jumpers. that's always been durant's solution to everything, even in the best of times, and is usually harden's. and few things in sports seem more hopeless than a team with expectations that just starts taking turns flinging jumpers in the 4th quarter when they've lost all offensive cohesion and can't get stops (whether it's the playoffs or a high seed in the ncaa tournament). somehow it seems like the shooting percentages drop to like 20% in those situations. maybe it never happens, harden comes back and they just cruise. but i just don't picture them with the trophy at the end of the season.
Oh god. I can just see it now. Nets cruise to the Finals, then Harden gets pulled by Silver for mysterious Covid reasons.
highlights from the 4:40 mark onwards -Nets PnR isn’t nearly as effective without Harden...Kyrie and KD routinely miss PnP, lob, and pocket pass opportunities -Harden is 1 of the best mismatch hunters in the league and would do a much better job of getting someone like Brook Lopez or Bryn Forbes on him -Nets defense improves with Harden -Nets defensive rebound rate improves by 3.5% with Harden
No, I think with their talent they could still contend, but they are much much better with James, because neither Kyrie nor KD nor anybody else they have can distribute the ball like James, plus he can score at will. If he comes back healthy, they should easily win the title.
I would just keep Harden out the rest of the season. It's not as if he can't get in shape during the 1st playoff opponent.
true…I think a game or 2 against the scrub opponents they have left wouldn’t hurt tho…maybe he can work out the bricks before the playoffs start at least
Yea there goal is the ring. they have the massive luxury of still being able to Field Kyrie and KD in the first round. You bring him back to where he feels good. It is definitely odd to see harden out, hes been such an iron man and it must be legitimate for him to be out long in such a big year. But play the long ball for the playoffs
