RealGM

This dude is legitimately the best passer I’ve seen wear a Nets jersey since Jason Kidd. His gears in transition and how he dictated tempo is just absolutely filthy. He didn’t even remotely dominate the free throw line yet.

14 assists WITHOUT Kyrie, Tyler Johnson and a practice in a debut within 48 hours is special.

He's the missing ingredient.

His willingness, even insistence, to get his teammates going was great to see. As KD said, it's really not any different than he's done for years. James is so much more unselfish than people give him credit for, he just gets labeled as ISO God and nothing else. Now, he can do that and is ridiculously efficient at it, but that's not his only gear.

I was pleased by his ability to make quick decisions, either attack the defense or keep the ball moving. This was perhaps his sharpest criticism, and based on reports from other players, I had a feeling it was something that Harden was ready to change. It wasn't even an MDA edict, it was a Morey directive based on deep stats. It may have been their best option in an heliocentric system with only one star, but this approach is better for our star-studded roster.

I'm really intrigued to see how all 3 look together. Milwaukee will be a tough test, and they are working on an extra day of rest. No excuses, it's the NBA so you lace 'em up and take the challenge. Let's go Brooklyn!

He is the perfect PG/playmaker for this team. Harden is a basketball genius. So so happy the Nets have him finally. What a player.

?s=20

No practice with anyone and was throwing dimes like it was nothing. He also missed some threes that he usually makes in his sleep. Easily could have been a 40 points triple double

GTR11 wrote:

Read on Twitter

?s=20

The boss is happy

StepBackCrack wrote:
He is the perfect PG/playmaker for this team. Harden is a basketball genius. So so happy the Nets have him finally. What a player.

I'm ashamed to say I didn't watch the Rockets much and I forgot how GREAT James Harden is. I knew he was Great, used to watch him all the time in OKC, but I forgot he was THIS GREAT.

What he did last night, first night with a new team in a new city, was nothing short of jaw-dropping, and I know he was only getting warmed up ... without Kyrie Irving too!

league better hope there's so much drama that the wheels fall off, otherwise it could be game set match sleep walkin to the finals for the next 3 years.

Whiskey Slick wrote:

StepBackCrack wrote:
He is the perfect PG/playmaker for this team. Harden is a basketball genius. So so happy the Nets have him finally. What a player.

I'm ashamed to say I didn't watch the Rockets much and I forgot how GREAT James Harden is. I knew he was Great, used to watch him all the time in OKC, but I forgot he was THIS GREAT.

What he did last night, first night with a new team in a new city, was nothing short of jaw-dropping, and I know he was only getting warmed up ... without Kyrie Irving too!

As a Rockets fan, we saw him do this EVERY NIGHT. The man averaged over 36 pts per game just 2 years ago.. efficiently. And he was averaging over 40 ppg for large chunks of that season. 40 pts as an AVERAGE. Absolutely insane.

He averaged an efficient 34.3 ppg last season. So think of this... his 30 pts last night was about 5 pts less than his average over the last two seasons. 30 pts in a game is a ho-hum scoring game for James Harden.

Get used to him putting up 30 points minimum every single night like nothing. He’s dished out 17 assists 8 times in his career too. So him dishing out 14 last night isn’t a fluke. He’s fully capable of averaging over 10 assists in a season.

The guy is an absolute beast, and it was incredibly frustrating as a Rockets fan, who watched him play every night, just get trashed and not appreciated by nearly everyone outside of Houston. I hope he gets the ring and the adulation he deserves for being an all-time great player.

Glad there's still room on the first page for me to say I was totally wrong about not wanting Harden. His bbiq is perfect next to Durant and Harris. I wasn't completely against the trade though I was really bummed to see Allen traded, mostly because I thought we needed Kyrie insurance, but right away you can see the fit of his talent with KD. Kyrie's fit looked good too, but Harden's looks on another level.

When (if) Kyrie gets back and starts getting wide open catch and shoot 3's, look out.

(I do wish there was a way they could have hung on to Allen. His defensive presence is missed and with Harden he'd have gotten so many easy dunks)

Harden's always been an amazing passer but it almost got put on the backburner by how defenses were forced to play him + how the Rockets adjusted. Teams were willing to throw everything at James + pack the paint and gamble that no one else could hurt them. That limits your options. It kind of felt like Harden was freed again. Playing next to KD + Joe Harris + Shamet. Guys that not only shoot the lights out but move without the ball. This type of spacing is on a whole different level than anything Houston has been able to do. So many beautiful passes last night.

Crazy thing is it didn't feel like he dominated the ball or he was on fire or anything - still put up 32 on only 18 shots. Just effortless scoring.

Really high IQ player. We were lacking a REAL playmaker on the squad since Caris/Dinwiddie/Ky are more scorers than playmakers.

Not to mention Harden can get to the free throw line consistently which becomes HUGE come playoffs time.

What has surprised me the most is how quick his hands are on defense and how strong of a post defender he is. VERY useful.

It hurts to lose some of our core guys but this is the type of move we needed to make in order to give KD a legit shot at a chip.

I think come playoffs time both KD/Harden should be at peak basketball shape/form which should scare the **** out of the NBA.

Kyrie is the X Factor here, though. If he starts messing around too much perhaps management looks to flip Ky for a quality big or better depth.

Just having KD + The Beard + role players is enough to be a SERIOUS title contender. We'll see what happens with Ky.

Kyrie for Capela and Cam reddish

MGrand15 wrote:Harden's always been an amazing passer but it almost got put on the backburner by how defenses were forced to play him + how the Rockets adjusted. Teams were willing to throw everything at James + pack the paint and gamble that no one else could hurt them. That limits your options. It kind of felt like Harden was freed again. Playing next to KD + Joe Harris + Shamet. Guys that not only shoot the lights out but move without the ball. This type of spacing is on a whole different level than anything Houston has been able to do. So many beautiful passes last night.

Crazy thing is it didn't feel like he dominated the ball or he was on fire or anything - still put up 32 on only 18 shots. Just effortless scoring.

Harden had that ball moving. I was completely wrong, he should be the PG. He was looking to get guys going and still was out there dominating in isolation.

Shaq was right tho... lol

CalamityX12 wrote:Shaq was right tho... lol

About what?

MGrand15 wrote:Harden's always been an amazing passer but it almost got put on the backburner by how defenses were forced to play him + how the Rockets adjusted. Teams were willing to throw everything at James + pack the paint and gamble that no one else could hurt them. That limits your options. It kind of felt like Harden was freed again. Playing next to KD + Joe Harris + Shamet. Guys that not only shoot the lights out but move without the ball. This type of spacing is on a whole different level than anything Houston has been able to do. So many beautiful passes last night.

Crazy thing is it didn't feel like he dominated the ball or he was on fire or anything - still put up 32 on only 18 shots. Just effortless scoring.

Yup... you can kind of say that for all three. KD had 42 tonight on like 25 shots and at no point was i like "man KD is going off". We saw Kyrie drop 30 several times this year effortlessly.

these guys dont just drop 30+, they do it on 60+ TS/low FG attempts. Kyrie and KD simply dont miss jumpers. Harden and KD get to the FT line at will. all 3 beat single coverage like they are in an empty gym.

Prokorov wrote:Yup... you can kind of say that for all three. KD had 42 tonight on like 25 shots and at no point was i like "man KD is going off". We saw Kyrie drop 30 several times this year effortlessly.

these guys dont just drop 30+, they do it on 60+ TS/low FG attempts. Kyrie and KD simply dont miss jumpers. Harden and KD get to the FT line at will. all 3 beat single coverage like they are in an empty gym.

It's interesting that their primary means of shedding defenders are unique and elite. KD raises over, Harden quick steps & bulldozes, and Ky throws their balance with the dribble. Switching from one to another as a defender would be a nightmare.