Last Week: Beat Sacramento Kings 136-125, Beat Phoenix Suns 128-124, Beat Los Angeles Lakers 109-98
This Week: 2/21 at LA Clippers, 2/23 vs. Sacramento Kings, 2/25 vs. Orlando Magic, 2/27 vs. Dallas Mavericks
Make all the jokes you want about defense or not enough basketballs or Kyrie Irving’s theories of the world. Maybe you even like to joke about James Harden’s conditioning before coming to the Brooklyn Nets. Kevin Durant did not play at all this week and the winning streak was not interrupted as the Nets have now won five in a row.
The defense is still far from palatable. They would have ranked 24th in defensive rating this week. While this is better than ranking as the worst defense in the league, they have been boasting it is still far from title-contending levels.
The Nets have made the move to not start a center and the offense is flourishing. Kyrie Irving transitioned to the starting shooting guard role (at least in name) and exploded against the Sacramento Kings for 40 points. James Harden added 29 points, 14 assists and 13 rebounds. Then, on the second night of a back-to-back, the Nets handled the Phoenix Suns on the road with Kyrie Irving joining Durant on the sidelines. Harden carried the load in a double-digit comeback, posting a line of 38 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds.
It was then a total team effort taking down the Los Angeles Lakers on the road. Andre Roberson, the newest Net, entered the lineup and while he did not contribute much the rest of the roster came alive. When Durant gets back, the true contending can begin but there is no rush. The Nets are surging already.