The Brooklyn Nets have had a really crammed schedule lately. Kyrie Irving returned for the Pacers game, his first of the season back on Jan. 5th. That almost seems like months ago listening to the Nets talk in the post-game. They've played six games in 9 evenings, including an overtime win over the Spurs at Barclays Center last weekend, then a back-to-back cross-country in Portland, then the big three blowout over Chicago, and finally a shorthanded “load management” Thursday vs. the Thunder. Kevin Durant and Patty Mills got to rest up for the last one. Irving was of course ineligible to play. That left James Harden to try to lift a team who could all use a nice two-day nap.

“Tired. Exhausted,” admitted Harden after the 130-109 loss to the Thunder. “Today was definitely a little frustrating 'cause we wanted to win and played so well last night so we wanted to kinda have some kind of carry over but it just did't happen. You know we got in pretty early [from Chicago] I should say 5 in the morning, I didn't even get to bed 'til 7:30 (AM) … so it was crazy,” admitted a clearly tired Harden.

“Whirlwind. I would describe it as a whirlwind,” said Harden about the jam packed schedule with his teammates and himself in and out of the lineup. “It's something new every single day.”

Harden had 26 points, 9 assists, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks and 3 steals on what was clearly more of a morning catnap than a good night's rest. His effort wasn't nearly enough. The L.A. native was just 7 of 22 from the floor, and 3 of 11 from distance, but salvaged his night by draining 9 of 9 from the line. Without Joe Harris (still no time table for his return from ankle surgery), without Irving, Mills, and Durant, you can imagine how the spacing looked out there. The Thunder did a nice job packing the paint and forcing the Nets into tough shots.

“It's definitely something that I've never done before,” said Day'Ron Sharpe about all the back and forth traveling that the COVID rescheduling caused. The former Tar Heel cracked twenty minutes or more the last three games. He had his career high in the team's best win of the season when he dropped 20 points in just 22 minutes vs. DeMar DeRozan and the Bulls.

One ancillary benefit to the wild schedule is the Nets have gotten the chance to rest some players, and also provide some crucial developmental minutes for their young core. These opportunities could pay dividends down the road. With the Feb. 10th NBA Trade Deadline, it's also possible rival teams might pick up the phone to place an offer for a promising young player like a David Duke Jr. Kessler Edwards, Day'Ron Sharpe, or Cam Thomas.

There is no indication the Nets are looking to trade those guys, but there was a rumor from Bleacher Report's Jake Fischer that perhaps Jevon Carter could be on the move.

For now, players like Sharpe just seem happy to get the chance to pick up some minutes. Sharpe knows that the COVID monkey wrench thrown into the schedule is part of why he's been able to find so much burn lately. And he loves it.

“We had a game against San Antonio, travel to Portland, six hour flight, play there, travel to Chicago. Then play Chicago, get back 5 in the morning. Got a game today so. Something I ain't never done before. But I told you man, they told me I get to play. You know I could travel all day if I get to play,” laughed Sharpe.

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Recently, head coach Steve Nash talked about the Nets glaring home road splits. After dropping the tough one to the Thunder at The Clays, Brooklyn is now 11-11 at home and 15-4 on the road.

“Well I imagine it's more difficult to prepare for us on the road when we have [Kyrie],” admitted Nash.  “I mean he's obviously an electric player who is capable of so many things on the court and adding him to our group makes everyone better. So I think of it as a bigger challenge for teams when they have to face us with Kyrie.”

“Ideal, we would love to have yesterday's [vs. Chicago] team every single game….” said Harden. He even joked about personally giving the vaccine to Irving to try to get a full-time big three. 

Sometimes the Nets feel like the old Charlie Brown gag with the football. Every time you think you might get the big three of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden in the lineup, something else happens. But all this team seems worried about right now is catching some well-earned shut eye.