NETS SHARP SHOOTER JOE HARRIS OUT FOR ANKLE SURGERY, DOESN'T STOP BROOKLYN’S MOMENTUM

 By: Abby Cooper

            Photo credit: ESPN

Patty Mills has stepped up for the Nets while a key player Joe Harris is out for injury. Brooklyn will continue their momentum against the Rockets on December 8th, at Toyota Center in Houston. 

With Nets sharp shooter Harris out for ankle surgery for four to eight weeks, Mills had to step up for Brooklyn. Mills has been averaging 12.7 points per game and started in nine games. Kevin Durant is another key player, averaging 28.6 points per game. James Harden is a strong shooting guard, averaging 25 points per game. Harden also averages 7.9 rebounds and 9.5 assists. 

According to NY Daily News, Nets Head Coach Steve Nash said, “We feel confident that the procedure will allow him [Harris] to come back and not look back.” The team is doing just as well without Harris, but are looking forward to his return. 

The Nets made a small adjustment to their defensive strategy, which was to switch players on almost every screen against them. They also had their center drop to the middle, stopping drives to the basket. On offense they are strong when reversing the ball side to side, opening up shots for strong shooters. 

According to NY Daily News, Nash said, “We’re growing, we took some of the things last year and we built on them and got more disciplined with some of those schemes and principles. We were very good defensively in the playoffs. So we hoped we could build on that and largely we have. We incorporated a lot of new guys and I think the carryover has been good.”

The Nets have been on a roll this season averaging 109.5 points per game. Brooklyn has won 70% of their games so far. Their only weakness right now is that their star shooter is out, but that isn’t stopping them from winning. 

The Houston Rockets are off to a rough start this season, with a 7-16 record. The Rockets lost 15 games in a row, but they won four games in a row after that. They are 13th in the Western Conference. The Rockets have eight players on their roster that have three years or less of NBA experience and Coach Steven Silas is only in his second year of head coaching. Houston’s leading shooter, Christian Wood averages about 16.5 points per game. The team has won 44% of their games so far. 

The Brooklyn Nets are 16-7 on their season, and are first in the Eastern Conference. Losing Harris to ankle surgery has not stopped their momentum. In March of last season, Brooklyn beat Houston 120-108 after losing Harden. 

Final Score: 114-104 Houston Rockets