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Unable to comment specifically on the Nets’ new Big 3 because their trade for James Harden is unofficial, Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said three superstar scorers on the field together will always have to “sacrifice themselves.”
But an Eastern Conference NBA scout told the Post it was easier said than done with the Nets’ beastly trio of Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, forming on Wednesday, turning the NBA by ear.
Scout is more concerned with the chemistry between Harden and Irving.
“It will be a work in progress,” said the NBA scout. “You literally and statistically have two of the five most dominant guys in the league. I watched Houston with John Wall and Harden, and maybe it was because of the issues, but it didn’t look like a comfortable environment for Harden with Wall dominating the ball. Then you have Durant who, I wouldn’t say, dominates the ball, but who certainly needs a lot of touches. ”
At least Harden and Durant played together in Oklahoma City. But that was before Harden became the league’s top scorer, averaging at least 29 points in five consecutive seasons in Houston.
“The dynamic between Harden and Irving is key,” added the Boy Scout. “Durant can adapt. In Golden State, [Klay] Thompson was not a guy who needed the ball. Fewer hits were needed for this big 3. Defensively, they got worse. Harden does not keep. And they lose [Jarrett] Allen. ”
Another NBA talent assessor wondered if the Brooklyn Dream Team will operate as smoothly as the Miami Dream Team of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
“In Miami, you had a hierarchy – LeBron, Wade, then Bosh,” he said. “Who takes the hit with the game in play?”
Thibodeau was an assistant coach of the Celtics’ title team in 2008 which featured their own Big 3.
“There is in the sense that the challenge is the same,” said Thibodeau. “I know in Boston, when we had Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, that was the big question. I think great players always figure out how to play with each other. They also improve other players a lot. So I think it’s not as difficult as people claim. I think the biggest challenge is everyone’s willingness to sacrifice themselves. If this usually happens, the result is very good. ”
The Nets have cashed in their futures, giving up several first rounds and pick swaps, but the goal for each of the next three seasons is to win the first NBA title in franchise history. Maybe two titles – even without Allen and Caris LeVert.
“They gave up a lot of players, but they’ve got so much depth in the lineup,” said the NBA lead scout. “They have three superstars and still have a lot of role players. They are worse at the center of losing Allen. But [Jeff] Green, [Landry] Shamet, [Joe] Harris, TLC [Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot], [DeAndre] Jordan, that’s still a reasonable supporting cast. ”
Of course, no one can be sure Irving will be back anytime soon, which could render the question of assembling the three Superstars moot.
“You can’t count on Kyrie at this point,” said an NBA personnel manager. “But Harden and KD will be fine. But it will take a minute before everything starts working. ”
Or explode. As former Wizards and Hawks scout Bryan Oringher told The Post, “Either he flares up terribly or they win multiple titles. ”
“Harden is a pretty good insurance policy for Irving,” added the Eastern Conference Scout.
A gamer agent can see the Nets transform into a basketball version of the Yankees’ “Bronx Zoo” – except in another borough.
“There is as much potential for this to go wrong as for it to go right,” the agent said. “You have Kyrie, who can be a loose cannon. You have Harden, who just called his team and teammates. And you have KD who on the surface seems very passive, but he likes to let a lot of things fester and talk about it after the fact like in Golden State.
Adding “The Beard” to KD and Kyrie is always a lot sexier than a Knicks team that suddenly became the low-profile team in Town without a star – let alone three.
“For us, we have to focus on ourselves and the players we have,” Thibodeau said before facing the under-equipped Nets on Wednesday. “Just focus on our improvement and just do the things that are necessary to get better. We are not concerned with them. They worry about themselves and we have to worry about ourselves. Our division is busy. We know that. We know the makeup of each list and we know we have a lot of work to do and we can’t wait to take on this challenge.
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