Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

'You're the point guard': Kyrie, Harden settle roles

Written by 
Published in Basketball
Saturday, 13 February 2021 23:33

As the Brooklyn Nets 'big three' of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving continue to work on building their on-court chemistry, Irving and Harden had a brief conversation at practice this week to clarify their roles.

"We established that maybe four days ago now," Irving said after the Nets' 134-117 win over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday. "I just looked at him, and I said, 'You're the point guard, and I'm going to play shooting guard.' That was as simple as that."

Irving described the conversation as concise and matter-of-fact.

"It's not a mystical conversation that we had," Irving said.

In Saturday's game against the Warriors, Harden had 16 assists, raising his 11.3 assist per game average since joining the Nets in mid-January. It's the most assists he has dished out since the 2016-17 season, when he led the league with 11.2 assists per game for the Houston Rockets.

"He's been taking control of the responsibilities and doing an incredible job," Irving said. "It just makes my job easier to just go out and play free and just make plays."

When Harden -- a multitime scoring champion -- was added to the Nets' mix, an overriding question was: Is one basketball going to be enough?

Harden had discussed with head coach Steve Nash his willingness to play whatever role necessary upon his arrival from Houston.

On Saturday against the Warriors, Harden, Irving and Durant scored or assisted on 100 points for Brooklyn. Saturday marked the seventh game the trio played together -- including last week's matchup with the Toronto Raptors, during which Durant was yanked from the floor early because of the league's coronavirus protocols.

Their record together is 5-2, including the loss to the Raptors that Durant was unable to finish.

"I came to this team knowing that they have two special scorers on this team," Harden said. "Obviously, I score when I need to, but as long as I'm getting everybody involved and Ky (Irving) is getting the shots that he wants, KD is getting the shots that he wants, it's pretty efficient. Offensively is not the problem for us, we can score in bunches; it's defensively. It seems like we're getting a rhythm as of late. We just got to keep it up."

Read 321 times

Soccer

Mo Salah glum on Liverpool future: 'More out than in'

Mo Salah glum on Liverpool future: 'More out than in'

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMohamed Salah has said he is yet to receive a formal contract offer...

Galaxy hit 6 to rout Loons; Sounders next in West

Galaxy hit 6 to rout Loons; Sounders next in West

Gabriel Pec, Joseph Paintsil and Dejan Joveljic each scored twice -- with one goal in each half -- a...

Amorim: United set for long period of suffering

Amorim: United set for long period of suffering

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsRúben Amorim said Manchester United will have to "suffer for a long...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Sources: Hornets' Williams out for rest of season

Sources: Hornets' Williams out for rest of season

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsCharlotte Hornets forward Grant Williams sustained season-ending te...

'Phenomenal' Pippen Jr. shines in dad's ex-arena

'Phenomenal' Pippen Jr. shines in dad's ex-arena

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsScotty Pippen Jr. already had plenty of fond memories of watching h...

Baseball

Woodward returns to Dodgers as first-base coach

Woodward returns to Dodgers as first-base coach

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLOS ANGELES -- Chris Woodward has been named first-base coach by th...

Carty, 1970 NL batting champ with Braves, dies

Carty, 1970 NL batting champ with Braves, dies

EmailPrintRico Carty, who won the 1970 National League batting title when he hit a major-league-best...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated