There were ample questions about how the Brooklyn Nets' newly formed “Big 3” would share the ball after the Nets acquired James Harden from the Houston Rockets.
Kevin Durant had experience playing alongside other superstars as a member of the Golden State Warriors dynasty and was as comfortable scoring off the ball as he was dominating the rock. But the general consensus on the likes of Kyrie Irving and Harden was they needed the ball in their hands to be impactful.
Rather, Harden said he is glad to have less of a scoring burden.
The former MVP explained to ESPN's Rachel Nichols he constantly felt the pressure to score in bunches in Houston. Harden added he is grateful to have other elite shot-creators and playmakers on the roster:
“The situation that I was with in Houston, consistently, in every single night, having to get 40 points to give ourselves a chance to win for a long extended years, is draining,” Harden told Nichols.
“So, just to have a skill set of guys where you can be a playmaker, you can get guys involved and not have to necessarily worry about scoring each possession. It's a little bit relieving to me.”
James Harden sits down & opens up about his new role in Brooklyn, what he didn't like about his departure from Houston, and the Nets' championship chances: "We're more than confident that it's going to be difficult for a team to beat us four times in a best-of-seven series." pic.twitter.com/rZKkwFs1jg
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) February 12, 2021
The Nets have had no problem putting things together offensively.
Brooklyn ranks second in points per game and third in offensive rating. Harden is averaging 11.3 assists per game since joining the Nets, showing a clear willingness to share the ball. His capacity to make plays off the dribble and create space has benefited both Irving and Durant.
The real problems have come on the defensive end of the floor. Brooklyn ranks 26th in defensive rating and has struggled to protect the painted area especially in Durant's recent absence.
Still, James Harden is confident the Nets will figure things out, in part because he does not have to carry the offense on his shoulders.
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