In a just-concluded NBA regular season game, the Nets at home after 4 sections of hard fighting, and finally lost to the Thunder 109-130, although the Thunder is a western fish belly, but the Nets loss is not a cold, because the Nets choose to give up the strategy before the game, if they can win the best, and can not win, there is no need to go on the line, after all, this game only Harden single core team, not the real strength of the team.
After losing this game, the Nets' record became 26-15, and they were equalized by the Heat, because the two sides had previously played each other, the Nets were at a disadvantage, so the Heat overtook the Nets to rise to second place in the East, and the Nets fell to third in the East, 2 wins away from the first Bulls, 0.5 wins ahead of the fourth-place Bucks.
Many fans quipped that the Nets have been fighting for away advantages since Irving returned to play away, falling from the first place in the East to the third place in the East, which is in line with the nets' intention. The Nets' away record this season is the first in the league, far better than the home team with only half the winning percentage, coupled with the fact that the away team has irving's strength has increased significantly, so the Nets should not strive for the first place in the East, but to ensure that there is no home advantage in the playoffs, which is their biggest advantage. Of course, this is limited to the speculation of the fans, back to the game itself, Nash at this time to choose to give up strategically and let the main team rest, it is still very wise.
Durant has been facing a lot of playing time pressure this season, except for the last big win over the Bulls in the third quarter of the clock only 30 minutes, the past 4 games, Durant has played more than 40 minutes in 3 games, facing a huge test of physical strength, but also facing a very large injury hazard, so Nash let Durant rest when facing a fishy team like the Thunder, rather than making Durant appear in order to win, it should be commendable. Counting the game against the Thunder, the Nets have played a total of 3 games in the past 4 days, and it is flying several places, from San Antonio in the West to play overtime, flying to Chicago after a short break, it will fight with the first in the East, and after playing the Bulls game, it is flying back to New York overnight, and the players have hardly woken up, and they have to get up and prepare to play the Thunder.
And the Nets main rotation, Harden has to continue to play the labor model, the last game to play the Bulls, Durant and Irving are 3 quarters of the clock, only Harden in the fourth quarter to continue to stay on the court to lead the second team, to avoid being overturned. And in this game, Irving can not play, Durant is off, Mills is also on leave, only Harden will continue to play. Some fans questioned this: "Since it is to give up strategically, then Harden should also be suspended."
Of course, we can't influence Nash's thoughts, but this game, Nash's platoon is debatable, because his starting lineup is destined to hurt Harden.
Nash's starting lineup for this game is Harden, Brown, Bembry, Edwards and Sharp, such a starting lineup makes Harden the target of the Thunder's defensive end, and as long as Harden is prevented, the Nets' offense will be completely cut off. So after the opening, Dolt is pestering Harden on the outside, as long as Harden breaks through, the Thunder almost the entire team shrinks the inside line to assist, block Harden's breakthrough route, and empty the other players of the Nets, because the other 4 are unstable in attack, and do not have the ability to handle the ball, as long as harden is prevented, it is equivalent to defending the entire team of the Nets.
In fact, in the case of Durant, Irving, Mills and Ade can not play, Nash sent such a lineup, it seems that there is no problem, but the Nets have rookie Thomas on the bench, he is the only player in this lineup, in addition to Harden, who has the ability to score independently, he can hold the ball to create offensive opportunities for himself, but also can hold the ball to share harden's pressure, but Nash did not put him in the starting lineup, but did not send him to the court until more than a minute left in the first quarter. If Nash let Thomas partner Harden to start, maybe the Nets' start will not be so difficult, the first quarter of the game is over, the Nets' starting lineup has 3 players who do not score, this is the drawback of Nash's starting lineup, so that Harden is surrounded by opponents, while other players do not have the ability to score, which eventually leads to the Nets falling into passivity from the beginning.
Thomas was reused in the back and eventually delivered 21 points and 3 rebounds, and if he had been put in the starting lineup, Harden could have been a little more relaxed, and perhaps the ending would have been a little different.