OKLAHOMA CITY – Even with the NBA’s second-highest scorer out, Brooklyn Nets beat a franchise record on Friday with the most points in a regulatory game, losing 147 at the Oklahoma City Thunder in a 22-point victory.
“We are getting there … We are moving slowly at both ends of the field,” said coach Steve Nash. “We fight defensively at times, but we are getting more solid with our game plan defensively. Offensively, you are starting to see a little more flow. You are seeing James [Harden] able to manage the game like that and manipulate the defense. “
For fourth, the Nets scored 36, 40, 39 and 32, building an initial advantage and scoring consistently throughout the game. They kicked 57% of the field, hit 19 out of 3 points and had 33 team assists.
With Kevin Durant sitting as part of a rest plan as he continues to work to recover from his Achilles tendon injury, Kyrie Irving and Harden took the reins, matching for 50 points – 25 each.
“We are picking up a pace, obviously, offensively,” said Harden. “But also defensively. We are learning our strengths and weaknesses and things that we can improve on.”
The Nets’ offensive explosion has been steadily growing, with 10 of their last 11 games showing at least 110 points. But they have also been, to say the least, mediocre on the defensive end. Thunder, which came into play last in offensive efficiency, still managed 125 points by kicking 46.5% of the ground.
“There is a growing familiarity at both ends of the floor. [But] we have a long way to go defensively, “said Nash.” It is not our strength or strength, but we have to be clean with our game plan and talk and participate in our actions. “
Harden and Irving spent several parts of the game orchestrating solo while Nash rocked his minutes. But there were also long stretches in which they faced each other, with Harden doing his usual drive-and-kick isolation, while Irving displayed his ultimate painting skills.
“I will always say that I will not take any day for granted. It doesn’t happen often in the story where you have this group together at this point, ”said Irving. “Some of the guys were newbies to their respective teams last year; some of them are candidates for MVP. And in order to have all this collective talent and not make the most of it, we would be doing a terrible service to ourselves. they want to continue to push each other and hold each other accountable. “
Harden credited the overall improvement in communication between the group, with assignments, coverage and adjustments being called out clearly during the game. Irving and Harden were ahead of the scoreboard, but there was an impressive balance to the game as well, with nine players ending in double digits.
“It’s very rewarding when you get a win, but whenever the whole team plays well and you do great things as a team, it definitely stands out from the rest,” said Irving.
The Nets have won four consecutive games and are 6-2 since making the switch to Harden. There have been some difficult points at times, with Harden doing stretches less involved in the attack, or Irving’s efficiency dropping, but the chemistry is growing, Nash said, and it’s something he just hopes to improve.
“Offensively, I think the guys are feeling and hitting each other, how the guys like to play, where they like the ball, how they like to move, cut and play against each other,” he said.
Harden said the Nets are eyeing the process, noting that it will only get more difficult as the season progresses. As the games get bigger and the season gets smaller, there will be more emphasis on the chemistry of the Nets and how they perform.
“We are going to be challenged every night; we are going to get the best of everyone,” said Irving, “but what we are doing now is just finding continuity to use our strengths.”