{"id":278739,"date":"2021-06-19T09:12:20","date_gmt":"2021-06-19T06:12:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/james-hardens-hamstring-will-dictate-nets-game-7-success\/"},"modified":"2021-06-19T09:12:20","modified_gmt":"2021-06-19T06:12:20","slug":"james-hardens-hamstring-will-dictate-nets-game-7-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/james-hardens-hamstring-will-dictate-nets-game-7-success\/","title":{"rendered":"#James Harden’s hamstring will dictate Nets’ Game 7 success"},"content":{"rendered":"

“#James Harden’s hamstring will dictate Nets’ Game<\/a> 7 success<\/strong>”<\/p>\n

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When the Nets went from struggling to super-team upon the arrival of James Harden, some opined he had saved their season.<\/p>\n

The star, though still not himself in the wake of hamstring tightness, may have to do just that in Saturday\u2019s do-or-die Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Bucks.<\/p>\n

After his right hamstring tightened up just 43 seconds into Game 1 of the series<\/a>, Harden essentially missed the first four games. He was practically immobile in his Game 5 return, and though he was better in Game 6, he was not good enough.<\/p>\n

Harden doesn\u2019t have to match Kevin Durant\u2019s Game 5 masterpiece, or be 100 percent of his usual self. But with Kyrie Irving out with a sprained ankle, Harden\u2019s hamstring will have to be better than it has been so far against the Bucks. And he\u2019s confident it will be.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the plan,\u201d said Harden, adding the problem isn\u2019t inactivity, but loss of mobility and agility. Recovering those takes time, which the Nets don\u2019t have.<\/p>\n

\"Giannis
The Nets will need more from James Harden in Game 7.<\/figcaption>
Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Unless they can buy some with a Game 7 win.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not even about rust, it\u2019s about being able to move,\u201d Harden said. \u201cAs I go day-by-day, continue to get better. The last game, Game 5, was the first day that I did any movement like that since I got hurt. So [Game 6] was no different, you know? I\u2019m out there to do whatever it takes to win. I\u2019ve got to be better on both end of the ball, which I will be in Game 7.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harden\u2019s limitations played a big role in the Nets being outscored 26-4 in transition Thursday. He struggled getting back against the likes of Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday, and on the other end he couldn\u2019t run the fast break the way he normally does. That may well be the case again Saturday.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s certainly a part of it. There was plenty of really clear opportunities where he put the brakes on and had to manage himself and protect himself,\u201d coach Steve Nash said. \u201cSo that\u2019s definitely a part of this puzzle for us, is that James is not at 100 percent.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s got to protect himself, so that\u2019s going to limit some of our options and some of the things that we do well. James is so talented, he can do so many things on the basketball court. But that\u2019s is one area that he\u2019s not going to be able to do. He\u2019s not going to be able to push the ball in transition.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Nets had a fast-break opportunity Thursday, only to have Harden downshift gears, likely for understandable self-preservation.<\/p>\n