Durant's recovery and Harden's absence have turned the Big Three Nets into a one-man play by Irving, and after losing 104-124 to Western rivals the Nuggets, the Nets have suffered eight consecutive losses, falling to the seventh place in the East with a record of 29 wins and 24 losses. In such a situation, the Nets have encountered an unprecedented crisis since the beginning of the season, and such a poor record runs counter to the dream of a championship at the beginning of the season, which is a result that players, coaching staff, management, and fans cannot predict.
Judging from the Nets' roster list, Durant, Irving, Harden, Ade, Joe Ha, and Clarkston can't play in the next game, which is a big challenge. At the same time as the record declined, the team's lineup slowly became unstable, and Harden became the focus of discussion among fans due to trade rumors.
Nets reporter Alex Schiffer reported that after the Nets opened up to Harden's trade, Harden's dissatisfaction with the Nets was also exposed. He thinks that after he came to the Nets, he still played as frequently as he played with the Rockets, and played very uncomfortable in a worse configuration; to put it more colloquially, Harden originally came with the purpose of holding his thighs, but he did not expect that he had become a thigh, and the offensive and defensive pressure he faced was even greater than that of the Rockets, so it was normal to complain.
As the trade deadline approaches, Philadelphia's pursuit of Harden has become more intense, and the Nets are also open to Harden's deal, and the two sides are expected to open trade negotiations in the near future. The Reason the Nets are open is because they believe that Harden's style of play is incompatible with the team's offensive style, and they are more worried about his physical health. And Philadelphia has always coveted Harden, the top ball-handling core, which is a well-known thing; and it is said that when Harden left the team, the Rockets gave him 76 people in the choice, and the choice of nets may be inseparable from Durant.
When the transaction rumors are flying all over the world, the management of both sides can't sit still, isn't this? According to ESPN reporter Warnaroski, four weeks ago, the 76ers management made a phone call to nets general manager Max to discuss the possibility of a trade, and the content of the dialogue between the two sides was also exposed: Philadelphia management asked nets general manager Max about Harden, and was rejected by the other side. This also means that as of now, the Nets are reluctant to trade Harden, which is the news we got in this information.
Perhaps this is also related to the attitude of Durant, another superstar of the Nets, after all, he has a great voice in the Nets, and Nash's entry as coach is also inseparable from Durant's support. It was hard to gather the big three, Durant was not willing to break up so quickly, and the group of this bureau can be described as painstaking. Sources said Durant still wants to keep Harden, but wants a loyal Harden. The Big Three have not played more than 10 games together in good health, so Durant has every reason to believe he can play better if all three are healthy.
Time is running out for Harden, the only player in the Big Three who doesn't have a championship ring, and he's eager to get proof that Maybe Philadelphia is his last-ditch effort. The Nets' current configuration really can't be compared with the configuration of the Rockets, when in addition to the deputy Paul, there are a number of excellent pitchers and pie-eaters like Capela, Harden played with ease. But at present, in addition to Duha, the rest of the players seem to be embarrassed, so that Harden is frequently trapped and teammates cannot provide more help, and his immediate combat strength is also damaged by the decline in environmental quality.
Such an awkward situation, like the moment when a couple is about to break up, is good for both parties. If the 76ers want to get Harden, they must send players who can match Harden's salary, and perhaps Send Simmons, who is "in the heart of Cao Ying" with several role players, the two sides can achieve a "peaceful breakup". The Nets can follow the Warriors' "Splash + Green" championship winning structure by getting Simmons, and both offensive and defensive ends can be liberated; the 76ers get a super combination of "one inside and one outside", which will be a big super combination after the "Lakers OK combination" in the past, which is worth the expectations of fans and friends.