This season, Nets star James Harden has been performing like an All-Star. With averages of 21 PPG, 10 APG and 8 RPG on 40% shooting from the field it is no doubt that he will be a part of the All-Star festivities in February. Still, the Nets thought they would be getting more when Harden arrived, and his current level is not enough to make the Nets an elite team in the league without Kyrie Irving.
Brooklyn needs Harden to reach his superstar form and there is still plenty of time for that to happen. In March of last season when the 32-year-old won the Eastern Conference Player of the Month, he was playing on another level. Harden was putting up 28 PPG, 12 APG and 10 RPG which was enough to lead the Nets to a record of an NBA-best 11-2 for the month.
What the former Sun Devil was simply doing was attempting more shots, getting up five more shots a game compared to this season even while playing alongside Irving. Not only that, it seems like nowadays, Harden has not found his same efficiency from the field yet. The Nets guard has to find a way to not only shoot over 40% each game, but to get more shot attempts up and maintain that energy against the elites of the league.
Usually when superstars reach 32-years-old, quality shot selection comes easy. So with that wisdom, getting up more shots only benefits the team because it creates more shots for others in the process. If Brooklyn wants to be an elite team, it starts with Harden making this adjustment.
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