Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the NBA daily, even when COVID has ravaged the league.
James Harden had a hell of a debut for Brooklyn.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Sarah Stier/Getty Images.)
So we know of James Harden. He didn’t do himself any favors with the Rockets organization after he said that team wasn’t good enough to win the championship. Even if he didn’t mean to be “disrespectful.” Of course, people would be rubbed the wrong way.
It’s easy to think of all the bad things about Harden after that. He dribbles too much. His game isn’t the most pleasing to look at. He travels on the court. He never led his team to the NBA Finals. You can hear or read all that noise, especially on social media.
Guys, James Harden is really really effin’ good at basketball.
We forget that he can play three positions. He’s a big guard that has amazing court vision. So big that he can easily outrebound his fellow guards. He can score pretty much anywhere on the court. And Harden will lull opponents before getting to the paint for a lay-up or even a devastating dunk.
Does he game the system with the gather rule? Sure. But you actually have to give credit to Harden for that. He found a way to get away with that and it’s helped his game become even more potent.
So with his point guard skills, what does he do in Brooklyn? Be the one that sets the table for his new Nets teammates that can put it in the basket. Oh, yeah. His former Thunder teammate, Kevin Durant, is one of those teammates. He’s only one of the best ever to put it through the hoop.
He concentrated on dishing it out at first. And then he got his game going. He would, of course, get a lot of boards because he always had a knack for that. Harden would get to the line because he’s a master of drawing fouls, no matter what people think of that. He can put up three-pointers like I would do lay-ups. The game feels so easy for him, even if he’s never won the big one. All-in-all, he went for 32-12-14. Harden, despite his defensive reputation, also stole the ball four times. Harden’s performance was so overwhelming that we forget Durant scored 42 points.
So yeah, the Nets may have lost some depth. But Harden provides them a 1B player that can single-handedly dominate the offense. Heck, the Nets have a 1A, 1B, AND 1C when Kyrie Irving comes back. Yes, the chemistry MAY be at risk but what happens when the formula works?
Expect explosions on the offense.
Bullet Passes
Even when John Wall does come back onto the team, I feel pretty confident that Christian Wood will still be the #1 option for the Rockets. He went for 24 points and 18 boards in a loss against the Spurs. I feel like that, at this point, this Most Improved Player award is his to lose.
Someone to keep an eye on, though, is Chris Boucher. He’s scored 20 or more off the bench in 4 of his last 5 games. And his scoring average is more than double from last season (6.6 to 15.7).
The Memphis Grizzlies have won their 4th straight. And Ja Morant also returned on the court (17 points, 6 assists). They upset the Sixers in a close one. Tyrese Maxey missed the three and the Grizz are on .500 for the first time this season.
The Miami Heat are 4-7 after getting waxed by the Pistons. It’s just tough to get any consistency going when you can barely get enough players to play because of the pandemic. I expect the Heat to make a run SHOULD they get their full roster back.
CJ McCollum, who is having a hell of a run, hurt his foot on Saturday’s game against the Hawks. Hope he recovers sooner than later.
And in more terrifying news, Caris LeVert, who just got traded to Indiana in that massive Harden deal, has a small mass in his kidney. I really hope that this is nothing serious. We’re rooting for you, Caris.
NBA Scoreboard
Jan. 16, 2021
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Did I tell you that Ja Morant is back?
JA MORANT IS BACK 😤 pic.twitter.com/ki7eW8Y9fp
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 17, 2021
Already defying EVERYTHING on his first night back.
Everyone, please take care of yourselves during this pandemic. And that goes for everyone involved with the NBA as well.
You can find Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
You can also check out Rey-Rey’s podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental, for more basketball content and, really, whatever else.