The Brooklyn Nets have excessive hopes this season, and a possible NBA championship contender has slowly shaped over the primary half of this 2020-21 NBA season. After a stretch that has seen the workforce win 10 of its final 11 video games, the Nets are second within the Japanese Convention with a 24-13 report.

After making an enormous commerce to amass celebrity James Harden, the Nets have been in a position to win video games regardless of solely having Harden, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant collectively for seven video games.

Right here’s a have a look at grades for gamers, coach Steve Nash and the workforce as a complete…

James Harden

The James Harden expertise in Brooklyn has been a rousing success. Harden has slot in as a grasp orchestrator on offense. Just like the Nets’ metropolis jersey inspiration Jean-Michel Basquiat, Harden has been an artist on offense, dishing lobs and passes all around the courtroom, whereas increasing his offensive repertoire with floaters within the paint and fewer isolations from his Houston Rockets days.

Harden’s nonetheless an unstoppable drive as a scorer, averaging 25.5 factors on an environment friendly weight loss program of pictures. He’s already second in franchise historical past with eight triple-doubles in 23 video games.

Grade: A

Kyrie Irving

When the Nets acquired Harden, there was an expectation that Irving must take a step again within the pecking order, however he’s excelled to this point after the Nets acquired Harden in January. Irving has an opportunity to hitch the uncommon 50-40-90 membership this season. Averaging 27.2 factors, 4.8 rebounds and 6.0 assists, the Nets guard’s willingness to play capturing guard to Harden’s level guard was an fascinating second and exhibits the workforce’s willingness to make sharing the ball work.

Grade: A

Joe Harris

Harris’ capturing exploits have reached one other degree in his fifth season in Brooklyn. He retains defenders trustworthy together with his perimeter capturing. Harris is second within the NBA, capturing an astounding 50.6 % from three in 37 video games and he additionally leads the affiliation in efficient area objective proportion (68.9 %).

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Contemplating the quantity of threes Harris makes an attempt, his effectiveness has been outstanding. Harris’ capturing is one in all many barometers to the workforce’s success. Brooklyn is 19-5 when Harris hits not less than three treys in a sport and simply 5-8 when he makes two or much less.

Grade: A

Kevin Durant

Accidents and COVID-19 protocols have brought about Durant to overlook 18 video games. When he performs although, Durant is a professional MVP candidate. An 11-time All-Star, Durant is averaging 29.0 factors, 7.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists. Getting back from a proper Achilles rupture, Durant hasn’t misplaced a step and his effectivity numbers are on par with a few of his finest years within the NBA.

Durant’s potential to play a number of positions on protection and his mixture of abilities on offense ought to assist Brooklyn as they take their subsequent steps to the playoffs. He’s solely performed seven video games with each Irving and Harden so it will likely be vital for the Nets to get all three some extra reps collectively.

Grade: A

DeAndre Jordan

After buying and selling away Jarrett Allen, the Nets are skinny up entrance. There’s a whole lot of duty that falls on Jordan to man the center. That’s made Jordan’s presence much more vital. The 32-year previous’s scoring and rebounding numbers are down from final season, however he’s capturing a stellar 76.2 % from the sphere. Jordan is offering rim safety and is a lob risk for a Nets workforce that lacks dimension within the paint.

Grade: C+

Jeff Inexperienced

Inexperienced has been an enormous worth signing for Brooklyn this season. The 14-year veteran suits effectively in Brooklyn’s switch-heavy defensive scheme. He can guard a number of positions and has spent a great period of time because the workforce’s nominal middle. Inexperienced’s been a revelation from three, capturing a career-high 42.2 % from past the arc on 116 makes an attempt.

Grade: A-

Bruce Brown

The Swiss Military knife of the Nets, Brown has performed a number of roles for the workforce. He’s a major perimeter defender and has lately excelled as a screener within the choose and roll when groups lure Harden. Although Brown just isn’t a top quality outdoors shooter, he’s discovered methods to assist with rebounds and a knack for ending within the paint regardless of his 6-foot-4 stature.

Grade: B+

Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot

Often known as TLC, Luwawu-Cabarrot has supplied some depth on the wing for the Nets. Groups are daring the 6-foot-7 Luwawu-Cabarrot to shoot threes and he’s completed a strong job, capturing 36.3 %. An honest defender, the French wing has performed effectively sufficient to carve out a spot in a aggressive rotation. He’s additionally chosen to stay to the rivers and the lakes that he’s used to.

Grade: B

Tyler Johnson

A situational participant, Johnson has shined when his quantity has been known as like 17 factors in his lone begin towards the Phoenix Suns. He’s performed greater than 10 minutes simply 9 instances this season and with a deep Nets rotation will doubtless proceed to obtain spotty enjoying time.

Grade: B-

Landry Shamet

The Nets acquired Shamet through the draft, anticipating the profession 40 % three-point shooter to offer perimeter spacing round their superstars. Shamet was ice chilly, capturing 28.6 % from past the arc in his first 16 appearances. Shamet misplaced his place within the rotation, sitting out 4 of 5 video games in late January as a consequence of Coach’s Resolution. He’s discovered his stroke once more and has performed higher over the previous month.

Grade: C

Chris Chiozza

Chiozza’s seen restricted motion this season. Brooklyn’s deep backcourt rotation has made it laborious for the previous Florida standout to earn constant minutes. The 5-foot-11 guard is capturing 39 % from three in 15 video games, however has discovered it tough to complete within the paint amongst the timber.

Grade: C

Reggie Perry

A second spherical choose acquired by the Nets within the Shamet deal, Perry acquired some minutes when the Nets dealt Allen to the Cavaliers within the Harden commerce. An undersized huge, Perry struggled off the bench earlier than being despatched right down to the NBA G-League Bubble to play for the Lengthy Island Nets.

Grade: C

Nicolas Claxton

The second 12 months huge man has missed many of the season recovering from surgical procedure for a labrum tear in his left shoulder. Returning somewhat over per week in the past, Claxton has been a serious shock, recording double determine factors in three of his first 5 video games. The lefty seems to be a serious a part of the Nets rotation with athleticism, size and a capability to run the ground effectively on the middle place.

Grade: Inc

Spencer Dinwiddie

Dinwiddie started the season as a starter within the backcourt alongside Irving, however suffered {a partially} torn ACL in his proper knee that ended his common season prematurely after simply three video games. Now, the most important query relating to Dinwiddie is can he return by the point the playoffs begin in Could? Additionally, will the Nets deal him forward of the commerce deadline? Dinwiddie has a participant choice price $12.3 million for the 2021-22 season.

Grade: Inc

The Others: Tyler Prepare dinner, Iman Shumpert and Andre Roberson are presently on the workforce, however have performed restricted minutes. In addition they are on contracts that place their standing with the workforce in peril relying on a commerce.

Grade: Inc

Coach: Steve Nash

In his first 12 months as a coach, Nash has carried out effectively. Managing the large quantity of accidents and a commerce that shook up the Nets rotation, Nash has needed to regulate with quite a few lineup choices and selections. He’s proven a capability to combine up his rotations, and take a look at completely different gamers collectively to see what works. Brooklyn’s protection has been a large number for a lot of the season, however they’ve proven indicators of enchancment, rating 18th in defensive effectivity over the previous 11 video games.

Grade: A

Brooklyn Nets

With Durant, Harden and Irving, the Nets have a top quality trio of superstars that can preserve them offensively potent always. Brooklyn has the primary offense within the NBA, however the defensive facet will likely be vital in direction of their championship hopes.

At the moment ranked twenty sixth in defensive effectivity, the Nets have performed higher protection as of late. For those who’re a Nets fan, you must be proud of a Nets workforce that has recorded wins over different contenders just like the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers (twice) and Phoenix Suns.

Grade: A-