James Harden knows it’s going to take time to get it right.
Patience has been the keyword for the Brooklyn Nets this season.
13 games into the season, the Nets (9-4) are on top of the Atlantic division.
Harden has used the early part of the season to work himself back to full form. The goal is clear, to get back to the level of basketball we’ve all become accustomed to watching Harden play.
Harden, along with Kevin Durant, playing at an elite level puts Brooklyn where they need to be for their pursuit of a championship.
Friday night, Harden delivered a 39-point performance to help the Nets knock off the New Orleans Pelicans 120-112, at the Smoothie King Center.
It was the first 30-point performance of the season from Harden, he added 12 assists.
“I’m getting there,” Harden said afterwards. “It wasn’t going to take long. I mean, this is the highest [level] in the sport is the NBA, the most talented players in this world. So it’s not going to be easy for me to just come out there and do what I do. It takes a lot of hard work to be playing at a point to which you guys have seen me play at.
“When I’m not scoring 30 points, when I’m averaging 18-some points, it’s like, ‘What’s wrong with James?’ It’s pretty solid still. I’ve been playing so well and so extremely at another level to where you guys set standards for me, and I set standards for myself as well. For me, I just continue to work. I feel a lot better, and the work don’t stop.”
Durant added 28 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds. It took for Harden and Durant to help avoid an embarrassing loss to the lowly Pelicans (1-12). After blowing a 21-point lead in the third quarter, the Nets trailed New Orleans with 4:36 left to play. From there on, Brooklyn’s All-Star duel combined to score 11 points to secure the victory.
When Harden is at is best is when he’s aggressive with his offense. That was on display against the Pelicans with getting to the basket and the foul line.
He attributed his slow scoring start to having to use the offseason to recover from a Grade 2 hamstring injury that slowed him down late last season. But, it looks like one the game’s elite scorers is getting closer to resembling the player we all know him to be.
“We’ve got to be patient with him,” Nets coach Steve Nash said when asked if Harden is back to full form. “It’s still I think got some yards to go before he feels this way every night or feels at his best. There’s the fitness, there’s the rhythm, and then there’s the confidence. For all those three things to come back, it does take time.
“He was great tonight. He’s been really good the last week or so and trending in the right direction, but I don’t want to get too carried away. Let’s give him time to get his game back.”
Brooklyn has now won seven of their last eight games. They’re very much still a work in progress. But all signs appear they’re heading the right way.
