Steve Nash was circumspect while commenting on the Nets’ acquisition of James Harden from the Rockets after a protracted trade saga.
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The Nets are off to a 7-6 start to the season now, beating crosstown rivals New York Knicks 116-109 tonight. They also added James Harden to their squad after one of the biggest trades of the century. They now have as much star power as any team we’ve ever seen.
The Nets are now de facto favorites to get out of the Eastern Conference, no matter what moves their competitors make. Such is their offensive strength that they have 3 players who can completely decimate any defense on any given night.
James Harden is the league’s best playmaker statistically, so far this season. He will have to, alongside KD and Kyrie, give up a ton of touches in order to run an effective offense. But fans like us are salivating at the prospect of watching the 3 best iso players in the world on the same team.
Steve Nash has a muted reaction to the James Harden trade
One would think that acquiring an all-time great offensive talent like James Harden would excite a rookie head coach. But Steve Nash is unlike most rookie head coaches, having won as many MVP trophies as his entire squad combined.
Nash downplayed the importance of Harden to the team, but he did call the NBA a ‘star’s league’. And it is true, top-heavy teams have won championships all through the course of NBA history. But the Nets also have significant wing depth. All they need now is a defensive-minded center to replace Jarrett Allen.
In the upcoming weeks, Nash will also be hoping that his point guard at the start of the season – Kyrie Irving – returns to the fray. The Nets have insurance for his absence, but they won’t truly be favorites without a Big Three to take on LeBron James and AD.
