Happy Monday! It’s time to take another look back at the week that was in the NBA!
Hello, and welcome to another edition of Unpack the Week! This is a weekly feature where I take a look at the previous week in the NBA and highlight some of the Association’s top performers!
What did you think of this week in the NBA? Let me know in the comments! Thank you for reading, and be sure to check back each Monday for more Unpack the Week!
TAKEAWAY OF THE WEEK
After months of speculation, James Harden is finally a Brooklyn Net. He had a fantastic debut, notching a 32-point, 14-assist, 12-rebound triple double in a 122-115 win over the Orlando Magic on Saturday. Harden accomplished this without having any practice time with the team and not being in peak physical condition (tie-dye is not very slimming).
I’m just glad the drama in Houston is over. Harden committed a lot of diva activity in the name of forcing his way out of town. I’m sure it was aimed at the front office to light a fire under them to get a deal done. However, that stuff ultimately comes at the expense of his teammates and coaching staff. Rather it was guys who have been by his side for years (P.J. Tucker, Eric Gordon, Danuel House) or dudes that just got there (Head coach Stephen Silas, Christian Wood, John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins), they were the ones that had to pick up the slack because their superstar couldn’t be bothered to try until he got his way.
But now he’s where he wants to be, and everyone can move on. The Rockets are basically starting a new era, and have the pieces to remain in the playoff picture long-term. However, the catch is that three of their four best players (Wall, Cousins, and new acquisition Victor Oladipo) all have extensive injury histories. Staying healthy is a huge key to them remaining on the postseason-caliber plateau.
Harden, meanwhile, rejoins former Oklahoma City Thunder teammates Kevin Durant and Jeff Green. They all looked amazingly in-sync in the Orlando game; a combination of knowing each other and added years of NBA experience between team-ups equaled some great on-court chemistry. When Kyrie Irving finally rejoins the fold, the Nets will have potentially one of the most potent Big 3’s in NBA history. A team that was already a title contender just made themselves even more formidable.
It’s exactly what Harden had been pushing for months. He didn’t do it with the most grace, but he did it. The whole ordeal rubbed me the wrong way, but at least it’s over now. If he wins a title in Brooklyn, he will follow in Anthony Davis’ footsteps as a superstar that forced his way out from his original team and got everything he wanted: his desired team, a more comfortable role instead just shouldering the entire load, and a championship.
I guess sometimes it’s okay to burn your bridges.
TOP PERFORMERS OF THE WEEK
Weekly Total Leaders
| Statistic | NBA Leader | Rookie Leader | Bench Leader |
| Points | Damian Lillard, Trail Blazers (121) | Immanuel Quickley, Knicks (62) | Chris Boucher, Raptors (65) |
| Rebounds | Domantas Sabonis, Pacers (54) | LaMelo Ball, Hornets (32) | LaMelo Ball, Hornets (32) |
| Assists | Luka Doncic, Mavericks (37) | LaMelo Ball, Hornets (27) | LaMelo Ball, Hornets (27) |
| Steals | Nikola Jokic, Nuggets (12) | Isaac Okoro, Cavaliers (7) Xavier Tillman, Grizzlies (7) | Xavier Tillman, Grizzlies (7) |
| Blocks | Myles Turner, Pacers (13) | Jae’Sean Tate, Rockets (6) | Nerlens Noel, Knicks (11) |
| 3-Pointers | Buddy Hield, Kings (21) | Isaiah Joe, 76ers (14) | Isaiah Joe, 76ers (14) |
| Double-Doubles | Domantas Sabonis, Pacers (4) | Previous Achiuwa, Heat (2) | Kyle Kuzma, Lakers (2) |
| Triple-Doubles | Luka Doncic, Mavericks (2) | None | None |
| Plus/Minus | Dennis Schroder, Lakers (+67) | Desmond Bane, Grizzlies (+29) | Marcus Morris, Clippers (+44) |
Team Efficiency
| Rank | Offensive Rating | Defensive Rating | Net Rating |
| 1 | Washington Wizards (1-0, 133.3) | Utah Jazz (3-0, 97.3) | Los Angeles Clippers (3-0, 26.6) |
| 2 | Los Angeles Clippers (3-0, 129.0) | Los Angeles Lakers (3-0, 98.3) | Washington Wizards (1-0, 21.9) |
| 3 | Brooklyn Nets (3-0, 122.4) | Memphis Grizzlies (3-0, 100.3) | Los Angeles Lakers (3-0, 21.5) |
| 4 | Los Angeles Lakers (3-0, 119.8) | San Antonio Spurs (2-1, 100.3) | Utah Jazz (3-0, 19.9) |
| 5 | Sacramento Kings (1-3, 118.7) | Boston Celtics (1-1, 102.0) | Milwaukee Bucks (3-0, 11.5) |
| 26 | Boston Celtics (1-1, 102.1) | New Orleans Pelicans (1-2, 119.7) | Oklahoma City Thunder (1-2, -12.1) |
| 27 | Atlanta Hawks (1-2, 101.3) | Miami Heat (0-3, 119.7) | Cleveland Cavaliers (1-2, -12.2) |
| 28 | Cleveland Cavaliers (1-2, 99.3) | Orlando Magic (0-3, 122.3) | Miami Heat (0-3, -12.5) |
| 29 | Houston Rockets (1-2, 98.7) | Sacramento Kings (1-3, 130.7) | Orlando Magic (0-3, -19.0) |
| 30 | Golden State Warriors (0-2, 96.1) | Phoenix Suns (0-1, 133.3) | Phoenix Suns (0-1, -21.9) |
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