With James Harden’s improved play, the Brooklyn Nets are scary again.
For the first few weeks of the season, there were questions quickly surrounding the Brooklyn Nets. They got off to an uneven start to the year and James Harden was less than impressive as Kyrie Irving was – and continues to be – sidelined due to COVID-19 restrictions.
However, somewhat quietly, the Nets have begun to look more and more like their overwhelming selves over the last few weeks. A big part of that has been the improved play of Harden.
After getting off to a horrid start to the season, in which many were questioning if he could get back to his former MVP self, Harden has done a great job of recovering and is playing much better. During his last six games specifically, Harden is averaging 26 points on 44 percent shooting from the field and is attempting 11 free-throw attempts per game.
During the previous stretch, dating back to the start of the season, Harden was averaging just 18 points on 40 percent shooting from the field and, perhaps most importantly, was just getting to the line 4.7 times per game.
It seems that, over the past couple of weeks, that Harden has figured out the new rules that have been put in place to keep him from drawing foul after foul. Either that or the refs have fallen back into old habits when it comes to officiating Harden.
If this is the Harden that’s going to remain for the remainder of the season, the Nets are going to have the chance to be that overwhelming contender in the Eastern Conference that many thought they’d still be even without Kyrie this season.
During the last six games, in which Harden has looked more and more like his former MVP self, the Nets have a top 6 offense and one of the best net ratings in the league.
In addition to Harden beginning to look like his former MVP self, I don’t think the contributions of Kevin Durant should be overlooked. He’s playing at an absurd level to start the season and should be the favorite, or one of the favorites, to win the NBA MVP award this season – especially if they’re still able to finish at the top of the East without Kyrie returning at any point this season.
For a moment to start the season, it seemed as if the Nets had blown this entire championship window for Durant and Harden. Slowly but surely, the Nets are quickly reminding the rest of the league just how dangerous this team can be and how much of a contender they will be during the playoffs.
And it’s hard not to see the strides that Harden has made over the last couple of weeks and not believe that he’s a bit reason why.