Brooklyn Nets: Predicting leaders in all the statistical categories
By Duncan Smith
Brooklyn Nets statistical leaders: Rebounds – James Harden
Predicted average: 8.5
The Nets don’t have a team with a lot of size and rebounding presence, but James Harden is a guard whose rebounding acumen far outpaces his size. In fact, he’s the leading returning rebounder from a season ago thanks to his average of 8.5 per game. Expect him to essentially duplicate that effort as he averages a near triple-double like usual.
Brooklyn Nets statistical leaders: Assists – James Harden
Predicted average: 11.0
Even on a team with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, James Harden is going to be the man with the ball a whole lot. As the main facilitator on a team absolutely chock full of elite scorers and finishers, James Harden should average double-digit assists just by rolling out of bed in the morning.
Brooklyn Nets statistical leaders: Stocks – James Harden
Predicted average: 2.2
Predicting James Harden to be a defensive statistical leader seems like a fraught proposition, but it makes sense. He’s a sturdy on-ball defender, even if he can fall asleep off-ball and be a bit lackadaisical. Harden is also a remarkably opportunistic defender who just tends to end up with the ball way more than you’d expect out of a player with his reputation. On this Nets team, it’s basically a coin flip between Harden and Kevin Durant for this statistical achievement.