OKLAHOMA CITY – Even with the NBA’s second-highest scorer standing, the Brooklyn Nets equaled a franchise record for most points in a regulation game on Friday, down 147 to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a victory 22 points.
“We’re getting there … Slowly on both ends of the floor,” said coach Steve Nash. “We fought defensively sometimes, but we become more solid with our defensive game plan. Offensively, you start to see a little more flow. You see James [Harden] able to manage the game like that and manipulate the defense. “
By the quarter, the Nets had scored 36, 40, 39 and 32, building an early lead and scoring consistently throughout the game. They shot 57% of the field, hit 19 triples and received 33 team assists.
With Kevin Durant seated as part of a resting plan, while continuing to work again after Achilles’ injury, Kyrie Irving and Harden took over the reins, combining for 50 points – 25 pieces.
“We’re catching an obviously offensive pace,” Harden said. “But also defensively. We learn our strengths and weaknesses and the things we can improve on.”
The Nets’ offensive boom has grown steadily, with 10 of their last 11 games having at least 110 points. But they were, to put it kindly, mediocre defensively. Thunder, who entered the last game in offensive efficiency, accumulated another 125 points while shooting 46.5% from the floor.
“There is a growing familiarity at both ends of the floor. [But] “We have a long way to go defensively,” Nash said. It’s not our strength or our strong suit, but we have to be clean with our game plan and talk and participate in our actions. “
Harden and Irving spent various parts of the game orchestrating solo, while Nash changed minutes. But there were also long stretches in which they played with each other, Harden doing his usual job of isolation, while Irving took out his ability to finish in paint.
“I will always say that I will not take any day for granted. This is not often the case in the history of having this group together at this time,” Irving said. “Some of the boys were beginners in those teams last year; some of the boys are MVP candidates. And in order to have all the collective talent and not to make the most of it, we would do ourselves a favor. we want to continue to push each other and take responsibility for each other. “
Harden credited the overall communication with improving within the group, with tasks, coverage and adjustments clearly required throughout the game. Irving and Harden were in the lead, but there was an impressive balance in the game as well, with nine players finishing in double figures.
“It’s very satisfying whenever you get a win, but whenever the whole team plays well and you do some great things as a team, it definitely stands out from the rest,” Irving said.
The Nets have won four in a row and are 6-2 since they traded for Harden. There have been some difficult times, sometimes Harden going on extensive stretches less involved in crime or declining Irving’s efficiency, but the chemistry has developed, Nash said, and it’s something he only expects to improve.
“Offensively, I think boys have a feeling and a rhythm for each other, how boys like to play, where they like the ball, how they like to move, cut and play with each other,” he said. .
Harden said the Nets are focused on the process, noting that it will only get harder as the season progresses. As the games get bigger and the season gets shorter, there will be more attention to Nets chemistry and how it runs.
“We will be challenged every night; we will get the best shot of all,” Irving said, “but what we are doing now is just finding continuity to use the strengths we have.”