Unable to comment specifically on the Nets’ new Big 3s because their switch to James Harden is not official, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said that three superstar scorers on the court together will always “have to sacrifice”.
But a scout from the Eastern NBA Conference told The Post that it is easier said than done with the bestial trio of Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving of the Nets formed on Wednesday, turning the NBA into their ear.
The scout is more concerned with the chemistry between Harden and Irving.
“It will be a work in progress,” said the NBA scout. “You literally and statistically have two of the five guys who dominate the ball most in the league. I watched Houston with John Wall and Harden, and maybe it’s because of the problems, but it didn’t seem like a comfortable environment for Harden with Wall dominating the ball. So you have Durant that I wouldn’t say is dominant on the ball, but it certainly needs a lot of touches. ”
At least Harden and Durant played together in Oklahoma City. But that was before Harden became the league’s top scorer, averaging at least 29 points over five consecutive seasons in Houston.
“The dynamic between Harden and Irving is the key, ” added the scout. “Durant can adjust. At the Golden State, [Klay] Thompson was not a guy who needed the ball. Fewer touches were needed for that big 3. Defensively, they got worse. Harden doesn’t guard. And they lose [Jarrett] Allen. ”
Another NBA talent evaluator questioned whether the Brooklyn Dream Team will function as smoothly as the Miami Dream Team of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh
“In Miami you had a hierarchy – LeBron, Wade and Bosh,” he said. “Who gives the shot with the game at stake? ”
Thibodeau was an assistant coach for the Celtics team that won the 2008 title, which featured his own Big 3.
“There is in the sense that the challenge is the same,” said Thibodeau. “I know that in Boston, when we had Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, that was the big question. I think great players always find out how to play with each other. They also make other players much better. So I think it’s not as difficult as people think it is. I think the biggest challenge is everyone’s willingness to sacrifice. If this happens, the result is usually very good. ”
The Nets have profited from their future by giving up several first rounds and trading choices, but the goal in each of the next three seasons is to win the first NBA title in the franchise’s history. Perhaps two titles – even without Allen and Caris LeVert.
“They gave up on many players, but they have a lot of depth in the squad,” said the NBA’s first scout. “They got three superstars and they still have a lot of actors. They are worse in the center losing Allen. But [Jeff] Green, [Landry] Shamet, [Joe] Harris, TLC [Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot], [DeAndre] Jordan, is still a reasonable support cast. ”
Of course, no one can be sure that Irving will return soon, which could make the question of joining the three superstars debatable.
“You can’t count on Kyrie right now, ” said an NBA personnel director. “But Harden and KD will be fine. But it will be a minute before everything starts working. ”
Or explode. As former Wizards and Hawks scout Bryan Oringher told The Post, “Either he burns down terribly or they win multiple titles.”
“Harden is a very good insurance policy for Irving,” added the Eastern Conference scout.
A player agent can see the Nets transform into the basketball version of the Yankees’ “Bronx Zoo” – except in a different neighborhood.
“There is just as much potential for this to go wrong as for it to work,” said the agent. – You got Kyrie, which can be a loose cannon. You have Harden, who just called his team and his teammates. And you have KD, who seems superficially very passive, but likes to let a lot of things rot and talk about it after the fact, like at Golden State. “
Adding “The Beard” to KD and Kyrie is still a lot sexier than a Knicks team that suddenly became the low-key team in the city without a star – let alone three.
“For us, we have to focus on ourselves and the players we have,” said Thibodeau before facing insufficient Nets on Wednesday. “Just focus on improving yourself and just doing the things that are needed to improve. We are not concerned with them. They care about themselves and we have to care about ourselves. Our division is loaded. We know that. We know the composition of each list and we know that we have a lot of work to do and look forward to this challenge. “