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“James Harden needs to be himself”: Kyrie Irving calls for Nets star to not focus on fitting in after win over Trae Young and the Hawks

Samir Mehdi
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“James Harden needs to be himself”: Kyrie Irving calls for Nets star to not focus on fitting in after win over Trae Young and the Hawks

Kyrie Irving wants James Harden to play as he did back on the Houston Rockets and not focus all too much about fitting in with the team.

The Brooklyn Nets faced off against the Atlanta Hawks last night and notched yet another win in the James Harden era. They are currently 5-2 when Harden hits the floor, besting Trae Young and co, 132-128 in an OT thriller.

James Harden went off for a monster double double posting up 31 points and 15 assists in 45 minutes of play. Seems as though Harden is finding his groove alongside Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant.

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KD talked about Harden and how he can fit in with the Brooklyn Nets a couple nights back. He said that it’ll take the 2018 MVP time to mesh and gel with the Nets as he will have to learn when to be passive and when to be aggressive.

Kyrie Irving has a few tid-bits of advice for James Harden

It was Kyrie Irving’s turn to play third fiddle to both Harden and Durant last night as he barely touched the ball in the clutch. He did however make a few tough fadeaways in the paint, helping to put the Nets up for good.

Following the ‘Beard’s’ exceptional play against the Hawks, Kyrie Irving was asked about James Harden’s fit with the rest of the squad. “That’s who he is,” said Irving. “We just want him to come into this group and not think about fitting in, but just be who he is.”

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James Harden did seem to be quite ball-dominant last night as his playstyle was reminiscent of back when he was on the Rockets. He had plenty of isolation plays called for him beyond the perimeter, and he delivered.

The Nets’ defense is still very worrisome as they have only had one game where they held a team below 100 points ever since Harden’s arrival in Brooklyn.

About the author

Samir Mehdi

Samir Mehdi

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Samir Mehdi is a senior strategist for the NBA division at The Sportsrush. Ever since he was 13 years old, he’s been obsessed with the game of basketball. From watching Kobe Bryant’s highlights on YouTube to now, analyzing and breaking down every single game on League Pass, Samir’s passion for the game is unwavering. He's a complete basketball junkie who not only breaks down current games but also keenly watches ones from the 60s’ and 70s’ while also reading comprehensive books on the history of the league. Samir’s life revolves around basketball and he hopes that shows in his work. Aside from work, he loves to spend time in the gym and with his friends at social gatherings.

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