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The Brooklyn Nets (9-4) knocked off the New Orleans Pelicans Friday night. It was closer than they would have liked (120-112), as they let the now 1-12 Pel's hang around. But they saw signs of life from James Harden who has struggled at times this season. But while fans were really excited for the breakout performance (39 points, 12 assists, 5 rebounds, 6 made triples) the Nets were…less so. They gave a more honest take and sound like they're pretty hard to impress.
“I think he played similar tonight as he did couple games on this trip, for sure,” said head coach Steve Nash, downplaying season highs for Harden in points, assists, and made 3s. He even got to the free throw line 15 times, a sticking point with new rules targeting non-basketball moves. But he had that burst.
James Harden last night:
39 points
6 threes
11-18 shooting
12 assistsThe @BrooklynNets improve to 9-4! pic.twitter.com/TGrSErlx4h
— NBA (@NBA) November 13, 2021
It appears Nash, who has seen The Beard explode recently for 28 points in the big win versus the Toronto Raptors, is prepared for some highs and lows. Maybe he's steeling himself for a letdown game in the near future and more inconsistent play as Harden acclimates to the NBA grind after rehabbing from a hamstring issue all offseason.
“I think we gotta be patient with [Harden]. I think we've got some yards to go before he feels this way every night or feels his best. There’s the fitness, there’s the rhythm, and then there's the confidence. For all those three things to come back it does take time. He was great tonight he’s been really good the last week or so and trending in the right direction. But I don’t want to get too carried away, let’s give him time to get his game back.”
Kevin Durant took a similar approach. He did praise Harden, but he also gave credit to another player for being the X-Factor.
“He was aggressive all night,” said the two-time NBA Finals MVP. “Getting downhill, getting to the free throw line, 11 for 18, highly, highly efficient. 12 assists. He just looked incredible….But James did a great job for us tonight controlling the game.”
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But he also credited Nets teammate Joe Harris with being the X-factor for giving the team juice early.
Harden himself offered a pretty honest take on the matter. He reminded us that he's not going to be able to ramp up from zero to sixty so quickly. And that while he might be playing well for the Netsl, he is compared to former versions of himself that had more of a rhythm.
James Harden was asked what opponent's should do when both he and Kevin Durant have it going for #Nets
"Ummm pray? Just playin…." pic.twitter.com/2ED8wM2CVp— DaveEarly (@DavidEarly) November 13, 2021
“I’m getting there man,” explained Harden. It wasn’t gonna take long but…the most talented players that we have in this world, so it’s not gonna be easy for me to just come out there and just do what I do. It takes a lot of reps, lot of hard work to get to that point to be playing at a point that you guys have seen me play at.”
The Nets star continued “so when I'm not scoring 30 points and I'm averaging 18 some points it's like ‘what's wrong with James?' But I been playing so well and extremely at another level to where you guys set standards for me and I set standards for myself as well. For me I just gotta continue to work. I feel better, I'm getting a lot better and the work wont stop.”
Harden may be compared to his prior MVP iterations. But until he's at least back to All-NBA form on a consistent basis (especially without Kyrie Irving in the fold) Nets fans are going to be a little anxious. For now, it doesn't sound like the Nets are allowing themselves to get too high with the highs or too low with the lows. That patient approach appears to be working.
