That includes the healthy two-time MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo. Here's the most incredible thing about Harden's 46-minute night: He played more minutes than any Buck. Durant might be so good right now that the Nets can escape this series with a hobbled Harden, a fact that should terrify the rest of the playoff field, because in theory, he should only get better as the postseason progresses. There's room for internal improvement here, and there's no telling how the Bucks bounce back from a loss like this one. They did so despite players not named Durant, Blake Griffin or Jeff Green shooting 2 of 20 from behind the arc. The Nets won Game 5 despite having a compromised Harden. So, just get some rest and get my proper treatment," Harden said after the win. ![]() "I didn't expect to play, so, 46 is, it's a lot. There is a chance he looks like he did in Game 5 for the rest of the series. After playing a staggering 46 minutes (the most of his entire playoff career in a non-overtime game!), there's no telling how his body will recover in time for Game 6. That will probably have to be the case for the Nets to make it out of this series despite the win. Harden's basketball IQ makes him a valuable player even when he's physically compromised. His passing in particular was exemplary as usual, and it keyed the start of the third-quarter run that got the Nets back into the game before Durant took over. Of course, he managed to contribute in other ways. The Bucks found a good amount of their limited offensive success by either putting him on an island defensively or forcing him to move. His lone bucket was a floater off the backboard. Harden just couldn't move well enough to get into the lane. No, the fact that only two of his shots came from inside the 3-point line is what should concern Nets fans ahead of Game 6. The fact that James Harden scored five points on 1-of-10 shooting isn't necessarily what matters in the grand scheme of things. Hard night for Harden, but does it matter? Had the Bucks tried anything else, Durant would've had an answer for it. He broke an entire team, one that has won more games than any other team over the past three seasons combined. But the only reasons those mistakes even mattered in a game the Bucks once led by 18 is that Durant was capable of making them matter. Their offense devolved into an endless array of isolations. They didn't double Durant quickly enough, and they didn't give Giannis a chance to guard him late. The Bucks made several tactical mistakes on the road to this loss. When a player reaches the level that Durant did on Tuesday, it can be. The Nets won this game because Kevin Durant was playing for them and not the Bucks. Perhaps never in basketball history has a playoff game been so singularly defined by one player. There is no "I" in team, but there is an "I" in Kevin. He was the first player in NBA history with 45 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in a playoff game. He didn't take a single breather, and he still managed to score 31 points in the second half alone. Durant played all 48 minutes, becoming the first player since 2018 LeBron James to do so in a playoff game. They needed him on the floor doing everything for the entire game. They needed both of his blocks and all three of his steals. The Nets needed all 49 of his points, but they also needed all 17 of his rebounds. ![]() This was a complete and utter masterpiece, and the scoring was only a small part of it. He's the best basketball player in the world. What else can you say about Kevin Durant? For now, here are the most important takeaways from Game 5. Now, they'll face a must-win Game 6 at home to keep their season alive. Milwaukee's offense sputtered down the stretch, as they scored just 21 points in the fourth quarter. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 34 points, 12 rebounds and four assists, but it wasn't enough. There was an error processing your subscription.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |