In case you hadn’t heard, There was some Nets news on Tuesday. Yes, that’s right, Thon Maker made his Long Island Nets debut. Joking aside, it was all about James Harden after a report was published about his dissatisfaction surrounding some of the goings-on with the Nets.
The Nets also dropped their eighth game in their last 10 at the Barclays Center on Tuesday night, with another game on tap in Brooklyn on Wednesday. The Washington Wizards suffered one of the worst collapses in NBA history on Tuesday night and Wednesday marks the two-year anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s death.
All of those stories and more in the Morning Shootaround.
James Harden News
- Tuesday was the second consecutive day that reports emerged about James Harden, but the latest one focused on his unhappiness over Kyrie Irving’s part-time vaccination status, Steve Nash’s rotation and his life in Brooklyn. There is also a growing belief among NBA execs that Philadelphia will make a play for Harden in the offseason. (The Brooklyn Game)
- Prior to the loss on Tuesday, Steve Nash spoke with reporters and addressed the rumors surrounding Harden and the latest report. The Nets head coach felt that he has had a great relationship with Harden and questioned the validity of what was being put out there in the media. (The Brooklyn Game)
- James Harden had his say as well on Tuesday, sidestepping the question about the reports, but did admit that he was frustrated. He told reporters that the frustration stemmed from his desire to win and not anything specific about the latest reporting on him. (The Brooklyn Game)
- It went from a “Big 3” to a “Lone 1” for the Nets, at least when it comes to playing in Brooklyn. That wasn’t exactly what James Harden signed up for when he came to Brooklyn a year ago. (New York Post)
- Who’s your source? A bit of a deep dive into how and where the reporting on all the James Harden trade rumors have come from. (NewYork Daily News)
Nets News
- The Nets fell on Tuesday to the Los Angeles Lakers 106-96 at Barclays Center. The Nets have struggled at home, their defense was an issue and they turned over the ball a lot. (The Brooklyn Game)
- Nash also confirmed a report that Steve Nash got a second opinion on his ankle. The news was first reported during the TNT broadcast of the Nets game against the Lakers. Nash called it standard. (The Brooklyn Game)
- Steve Nash still remains in awe of what LeBron James can do on the court. (Newsday)
- The Long Island Nets fell to the College Park Skyhawks, 105-102, after letting a late lead slip away. (NetsDaily)
NBA News
- The Washington Wizards may have hit rock bottom on Tuesday night. The Wiz blew a 35 point lead and lost to the Los Angeles Clippers. Now, the question becomes, where does the organization go from here? (The Athletic)
- Wednesday marks the somber two-year anniversary of the death of Kobe Bryant. The NBA legend was killed, along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and eight others, when the helicopter they were traveling in crashed. (New York Times)
- The NBA trade deadline is approaching and it could be a role player that could make the difference between a team that competes for a championship and one that doesn’t. What player flying under the radar could have the biggest impact if they are moved before or at the Feb. 10 deadline? (ESPN)
- Is the NBA doing the right thing by policing the emotion of the game with such an iron fist? It doesn’t seem to be, according to one writer. (Yahoo! Sports)
