Nets Edge Bucks as Durant and Harden Lead the Way
In an exciting game that may prove to be an Eastern Conference Finals preview, the Brooklyn Nets beat the Milwaukee Bucks 125-123. James Harden scored a game-high 34 points, and he also had a game-high 12 assists plus six rebounds. Kevin Durant finished with 30 points, nine rebounds, and six assists. Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has traded verbal barbs with Harden before, led Milwaukee in scoring (34 points), rebounds (12), and assists (seven), but he was stationed beyond the midcourt line at the start of Milwaukee's game-ending out of bounds play, a strange deployment of the reigning two-time MVP with the Bucks only needing two points to tie. Khris Middleton, who missed a jumper as time expired, had 25 points, four rebounds, and four assists. The Nets won the rebounding battle 49-41, and they outshot the Bucks from the field .548 to .438. The Bucks kept the game close by forcing 17 turnovers while only committing five turnovers.
Much attention is being paid to Harden's numbers in his first two games as a Net: 32 points, 14 assists, and 12 rebounds in his debut, followed by his strong game versus the Bucks. I have yet to see, read, or hear anyone mention the numbers that Julius Erving posted in 1973 in his first two games as a Net: 42 points, 18 rebounds, three assists and four blocked shots in his debut, followed by 38 points and 13 rebounds in the encore. Those games are not less valid or less relevant because they took place nearly 50 years ago in the ABA. The NFL fully recognizes AFL statistics, and the NBA must do likewise with ABA statistics.
It has also been asserted that Durant has set a Nets' franchise record by scoring at least 25 points in 10 consecutive games--but during Erving's first season with the Nets he scored at least 25 points in 13 consecutive games, and he had a 13 game streak of 25 point games during the 1975-76 season. Further, Rick Barry scored at least 25 points in the final 12 games of the 1970-71 season. Barry did not reach the 25 point mark in the first game of the 1971-72 season, but he had an 11 game streak of 25 point games later during that campaign.
During the 1975-76 season, Erving also had an 11 game streak of 25 point games, and a 10 game streak of 25 point games. The 13 game streak ended with a 23 point game that immediately preceded the 11 game streak, so Erving had a run of 25 games during which he scored at least 25 points 24 times. During that 11 game streak, Erving had a game during which he scored 44 points immediately followed by a game during which he scored 40 points, grabbed 20 rebounds, dished for nine assists, accumulated six steals, and blocked four shots. Erving scored at least 20 points in each of the first 27 games of the 1975-76 season.
The NBA and its media partners consistently pretend that ABA games never happened and that ABA records do not exist. This would be like the NFL and its media partners pretending that Joe Namath did not post the first 4000 yard passing season in pro football history.
More significant than how Erving started off the 1973-74 season or how well he played during the season is how Erving finished that campaign: he won the regular season MVP, and then he won the Finals MVP after leading the Nets to the ABA title. Similarly, in 1975-76 Erving won the regular season MVP, and then he won the Finals MVP after leading the Nets to the ABA title. He also won the scoring title during both seasons, and he was selected for the All-Defensive Team in 1976.
Any student of basketball history or advocate for truthful reporting must cringe after reading or hearing about Durant setting a franchise record that is not really a franchise record.
Maybe Durant and Harden will win a title with the Nets, but even if they do that would not diminish the permanent place that Erving carved out for himself in Nets history, in ABA history, and in pro basketball history. Erving's playoff career in general is underrated--he won three championships and he led his team to the "Final Four" (the Division Finals or Conference Finals) 10 times, including nine times in his first 12 seasons--and his playoff career with the Nets was extraordinary and remains unappreciated.
The Nets are playing very well now with Durant and Harden running the show, but this is the honeymoon period for Harden with a new team. Harden is happy that he succeeded in forcing his way out of Houston to Brooklyn, and he is eager to prove that he can fit it in with the Nets, a process that has perhaps been simplified due to the ongoing unexplained absence of Kyrie Irving, who was originally slotted to be the team's second option behind Durant. It will be interesting to see what this team's chemistry looks like after Irving returns to action--and it will be even more interesting to see what this team looks like in the crucible of playoff competition, where Durant and Irving have earned their championship stripes but Harden has consistently performed poorly. In this small sample size of two games, Harden has often handled the ball down the stretch. Perhaps that will continue to work during the regular season, but I would not trust Harden handling the ball down the stretch in playoff games, particularly in playoff games versus elite teams.
Labels: Brooklyn Nets, Giannis Antetokounmpo, James Harden, Julius Erving, Kevin Durant, Khris Middleton, Kyrie Irving, Milwaukee Bucks, New York Nets
posted by David Friedman @ 11:36 PM
