Let’s just say this: James Harden was terrific on his Brooklyn Nets debut. Yes, he committed nine turnovers. Yes, he shot only 3 out of 10 out of three. But he was in full control all night, taking passes everywhere, immediately exhibiting an easy feel for the delicate balance of when to create for himself and when to make his teammates go, while the Nets parted ways from Orlando late for a victory.
Harden’s chemistry with Kevin Durant seems like they never stopped playing together when the two combined had an impressive 74 points, 19 assists and 16 rebounds. Durant was poetic with 42 of the easiest points you have ever seen as his incredible start to the season continues.
From Harden, with 32 points, 14 assists, 12 rebounds and four steals, he became the first player in NBA history to score a 30-point triple-double on his debut with a new team. He has also recorded his name in the Nets record book, as these 14 assists are a high deductible for anyone on a team debut and have tied the watermark since the organization moved to Brooklyn.
Harden’s patience and playability were the two biggest conclusions of this debut. How he, and everyone around him, tackles offensive balance will continue to evolve, probably for the rest of the regular season, and Kyrie Irving’s return will be another wrinkle, but it is already clear that Harden is prepared to embrace his role as an orchestrator. See all the different ways he created shots for his teammates on Saturday night:
Harden, who is one of only six players in NBA history to win both a goal and an assist title, has always been an excellent passer, not only for his creativity, sense of court and time, but because he is deadly accurate, rarely forcing rollers or spot-up snipers to adjust passes that are even marginally off target. It hits you right in your pocket, and the results reflect that pace.
By ESPN Stats & Info, the Nets hit 7 out of 12 in the first half when they received a pass from Harden, and it was a perfect 5 out of 5, including 2 out of 2 out of three, when the shooter found himself unprotected. Speaking of unprotected, Joe Harris, who happens to be one of the best snipers on the planet, may not shoot again throughout the season with the attention that his teammates will attract. Get used to many trebles like this:
Harris also benefited from the gravity of his teammates in the first possession. See here as Harden and Durant move to the screen crossed to each other, and when all eyes are on them, Harris goes to the rim for a tray.
In Houston, Harden’s gravity was never really important because he always had the ball. In Brooklyn, that won’t be the case. Your movement outside the ball can, and should, be a weapon, just as Durant and Irving should when Harden has possession. When the three are playing together, two of them must be constantly creating one-on-one tracks for the third, even with a little activity.
What is scary is that, in many cases, this will not even be necessary. We are literally talking, probably, about the three best scorers in the world, in the same team. They can play their turn-my turn to offend while sleeping. Whenever a dry spell occurs, Harden and Durant can simply get on a pick and roll and hit a good kick every time, while defenders make the impossible choice which to follow.
For three years, Durant benefited from playing alongside Stephen Curry, finding himself with more open plans than he had ever seen in Oklahoma City, and that dynamic should continue with Harden and Irving. Here’s how Harden methodically sucks up all the defense in ink, forcing everyone to get involved with him as the top scorer and Reggie Perry as the roll, leaving Durant alone for a warm-up jump.
Durant scored 5 out of 8 on 3 points on Saturday night. Harden has never had a 3-point sniper like Durant as a co-star in Houston, and they will make music maddening and easy along with that kind of spacing.
Brooklyn’s defense has yet to be worked out. They are a good bet to get another sideline and / or a big man to protect the ring after Jarrett Allen leaves (preferably one that can also be a pick-and-pop threat given the availability of these looks with Harden, Durant and Irving starting) by trade or in the buying market.
Working Irving on the mix will be a test. But after a game, the outrageous skill and IQ that both Harden and Durant have made it very clear that this is not going to be a terribly difficult transition. Irving is incredibly smart on the court too. They will discover this and, when they do, they will be terrifying, perhaps almost impossible to stop, offensively.