With three games left in the regular season, the Nets are still hopeful of seeing James Harden suit up before Sunday’s finale. But they still aren’t saying when.
“Hopefully we get a look at him before the end of the year,” said Steve Nash, who wouldn’t hazard a guess whether that comes Wednesday against the Spurs. “I couldn’t put a percentage on it. We have to see. It’s continually monitored in this situation. But I think the idea is that he plays in one of these last three games.
“But it’s up to a number of factors that I couldn’t give a straight answer right now; so we’ll see how the rest of the day goes, how [Wednesday] goes. We’ll consider what happens with the team and how the team and all those different parameters [factor in], so not just James individually. We’re hopeful that he can play in one of these last three games but we’ll have to decide when the time comes.”
Harden missed a career-high 18th straight game Tuesday in Chicago with a hamstring strain. He’s gotten in several high-intensity workouts with a physical day Monday followed by good signs Tuesday.
Still, it’s not the real thing. And with just three dates left (Spurs, Bulls on Saturday and Cavs on Sunday), the Nets want him to have that before the playoffs.
“So, part of this is the performance team saying we have the markers to say he’s safe to play now. In a vacuum, we might say ‘He’s not playing ’til the playoffs.’ But basketball is played on the floor, and it’s not just James Harden jumps into a playoff game as James Harden,” Nash said. “There are things he needs individually and personally to feel confident and comfortable and to get reps.
“So that’s why we’d take any sort of risk of him playing in one of these games, so he can find that rhythm and comfort, because that’s a big part of returning to play is just once he’s past his markers, we could say ‘he’s healthy enough to play. Play him.’
“And then there’s the alternative of why would we risk it if we’re going to need him in the playoffs. The truth is somewhere in the middle, and part of it is for the team to feel and for him to feel the game again. It’s one thing to play in the stay-ready groups, it’s one thing to do all the prep, but once you’re out there on the court it’s always different and impossible to replicate.”
Bruce Brown not only played despite a broken nose but started Tuesday. The Nets were 25-8 with the tough, defensive-minded guard in the lineup.
Brown suffered the injury in a practice collision and was expected to wear a mask vs. Chicago, then get a more intricate one when the Nets return home.
