Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr did not sugar coat things when he addressed what went wrong in his team's disappointing 117-134 defeat to the Brooklyn Nets at Chase Center. Post-match, the multi-titled tactician acknowledged that it was their inability to contain Nets superstar James Harden that led to their downfall, per Marcus Thompson of The Athletic.
Kerr said Harden controlled the whole game. "We couldn't handle him."
— Marcus Thompson II (@ThompsonScribe) February 14, 2021
The Beard didn't exactly light up the Dubs with his scoring on Saturday, putting up a modest 19-point outing on 6-for-11 shooting from the field and 5-from-8 from long distance. However, it was his masterful dissection of the Warriors' defense that got the job done, as he dished out a game-best 16 assists in 35 minutes.
James Harden even tied a franchise record along the way, becoming the second Nets player besides Deron Williams to record multiple 15 assists outings in a single season. The one-time league MVP will get a chance to break that record in Brooklyn's upcoming games. It's a safe bet he'll get it done sometime this season.
Article Continues BelowGolden State actually put up a fight with Brooklyn's high-octane offense, getting a game-high 27 points from Stephen Curry and 17 apiece from Andrew Wiggins and Kelly Oubre Jr. However, it was their inability to stop the Nets on the other end that greatly hurt their chances. The Dubs played without a legitimate center, leaving a gaping hole in the middle. James Wiseman and Kevon Looney both sat out to injuries, allowing Harden and company easy route to the rim each time.
The Beard took full advantage and attracted plenty of Warriors defenders before kicking the ball out to his wide-open teammates. Golden State did not offer much resistance, allowing the Nets to make 53 percent of its field goals and 41 percent of its triples.
Steve Kerr, meanwhile, is already used to dealing with James Harden over the years. But with no Klay Thompson or legitimate rim-protector he simply had no answer for The Beard's unselfish play this time around.