sport
NBA
After the drama: Kwai Leonard gets angry over the "unfortunate" whistle, James Harden takes over Brooklyn
The dubious offense offense to the Clippers ’duty upset the NBA, Kwai claimed: Harden had committed an offense on me earlier.
Harden becomes the main star in Durant's absence and compliments Kyrie ("playing with him is perfection"), but in Brooklyn they understand: "Everyone is waiting for our downfall"
Tags
James Harden
Kwai Leonard
Brooklyn Nets
Los Angeles Clippers
Walla!
sport
Monday, 22 February 2021, 09:11
Share on Facebook
Share on WhatsApp
Share in general
Share in general
Share on Twitter
Share on Email
0 comments
The judges bought his flops again?
Harden vs. Kwai (Photo: Reuters)
The closing seconds of the game between the Nets and the Clippers stirred the NBA.
The two ambitious teams met tonight (Sunday through Monday) for a top-flight game at Staples Center, which ended in a 108-112 victory for Brooklyn after a rather dubious whistle from the referees.
11 seconds to go, after the Clippers almost completed a turnaround after trailing 15 points in the final quarter, Kwai Leonard could have equalized to transfer the lead to the Clippers.
He penetrated the basket in front of James Harden, deflected it lightly and scored, but the referees marked a foul, which in retrospect decided the fate of the game ensured the Nets a sixth straight win.
During the talk, Kwai and Arden are seen making contact, but Arden, who has already gained a reputation as a "flop," seems to be making the first contact, and in any case overreacting to Leonard's touch.
The ESPN broadcast team criticized the whistle, and even on social media commentators and actors claimed that Kwai and the Clippers were deprived.
As for Kwai, it was clear that there was no room for a whistleblower for an offense.
"If the referees let play thugs' basketball at the end of a game, it should work for both sides," Leonard said at the conclusion.
"But they did not whistle a foul on me, so it was probably a good defense. I felt they had caught me by the hand before, but like I said - they did not whistle, so that's a good defense."
Tyrone Lou also referred to the whistle in question and said at the end: "They whistled an offense, so there's not much to do with it now. I'm not one to complain, but in our locker room they said Harden gave Kwai a blow to the hand before he was pushed ... I do not know, because I do not know, because "I did not watch the course. For me, this game is over and we have to move on."
More on Walla!
NEWS
After a dubious whistle: Brooklyn defeated the Clippers and finished a perfect away game trip
To the full article
twittertwitter
In the end, Brooklyn continues to make a great impression, and slowly connects.
The Nets now stand for six straight wins, five of them on their away games to the West, including wins over Golden State, Sacramento, Phoenix and the two Los Angeles teams - the Lakers and the Clippers.
Three of those wins were by a double-digit margin, and four of them were achieved despite Kevin Durant not playing, which only illustrates the huge potential of the team.
Either way, even in Brooklyn they know they are still under a magnifying glass, and that the media will not caress them despite the victories and good fitness that has left them only half a game away from Philadelphia manning the first place in the East.
"Winning six games in a row will probably silence the world for a while," said Kyrie Irving, who scored 29 points.
"I am sure that when we encounter bumps everyone will say again, 'What's going on with the Nets?', Everyone will ask questions, everyone will try to doubt us. Everyone longs for our failure. Ultimately our goal is to get to the big stage, we want to earn the right to get there."
The Nets continue to display impressive ability against the NBA senior teams.
Their balance against the Lakers, Clippers, Jazz, Bucks and Skiers this season stands at 1: 6, and in games against teams with the 14 best balances in the league, they stand at a 2:12 balance.
“We’re still growing day by day, but the direction is definitely positive,” says James Harden, who excelled with 37 points, 1 rebound and 7 assists.
"From the moment I joined we played tough and smart basketball. We had time to work on things on both sides of the court, and we start to play better."
In Brooklyn they agreed that the turning point came in a loss to weak Detroit.
From there began the streak of six victories.
"We were not connected at all. It was an embarrassment. But there we realized we needed to demand standards of excellence from ourselves."
"We've had some embarrassing losses, and we don't want them to chase us until the end of the season," Harden added.
"We decided as a group to lift ourselves up, each individually, and all together."
Harden is slowly feeling more and more comfortable in Brooklyn, and the numbers suggest he may be the important rib in the star trio.
By comparison, Harden averages rebounds, assists, steals and good threes from Kevin Durant, and the Hunts' balance in games he plays and Durant is disabled is 3: 6.
When Durant played without Harden, the Nets recorded five wins and five losses.
Kyrie Irving is also already showing improved chemistry with Harden, and Brooklyn hopes the Durant-Harden-Irving triangle can accumulate joint experience over time, having played together just seven games so far.
Meanwhile, the stars are trying to pardon each other.
"Kyrie is one of the most talented players I've ever seen," Harden praised his friend.
"Everyone already knows it, but to be a part of it, to see it day after day, to train with it, to play with it ... it's perfection. Plus, he's such a good guy. I'm happy he's a member of my team."
Share on Facebook
Share on WhatsApp
Share in general
Share in general
Share on Twitter
Share on Email
0 comments