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The Brooklyn Nets were already expected to be successful this season, but the acquisition of James Harden from the Houston Rockets has made them the favorites to win the NBA title.
Combining Harden with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving seems almost unfair, as they are three of the most electric offensive talents in the NBA. However, it hasn't all been plain-sailing for Steve Nash's side, who are trying to make up for their defensive frailties by outscoring their opponents. It wouldn't be surprising if the Brooklyn Nets were to use the impending trade deadline to bring in additional defensive solidity.
In this article, we will have a look at how the Nets players have performed so far, and to give a realistic rating we have left out those that have featured in less than five minutes per game on average.
Grading the Brooklyn Nets starters after opening 27 games of the 2020-21 season
Kevin Durant: A+
2020-21 Season Record - MPG: 35.9 PPG: 29.5 AST: 5.2 REB: 7.4 FG%: 52.9
Kevin Durant has been the Brooklyn Nets' main man in the early stages of the season with his MVP-calibre level. The forward is averaging 29.5 points, his highest since his MVP season in 2013-14. He is also shooting at a higher percentage, draining almost 45% from beyond the arc. Durant is expected back this weekend to face his former side, the Golden State Warriors after being sidelined with COVID-19 protocols.
Kyrie Irving: A
2020-21 Season Record - MPG: 35.7 PPG: 27.9 AST: 5.9 REB: 4.6 FG%: 52.2
Kyrie Irving is shooting at a career-high rate and since moving to Brooklyn, has shown he can be a prolific scorer as well as provider. Irving is also averaging career-high points with 27.9, though just misses out on getting an A+ given his recent fines from the league and the fact the Brooklyn Nets may be worried he leaves the team again.
James Harden: A+
2020-21 Season Record - MPG: 39.0 PPG: 23.3 AST: 11.3 REB: 8.2 FG%: 47.9
There were worries when James Harden was traded to the Brooklyn Nets about how he would be able to fit in with two ball-dominant teammates. However, Harden's team-first attitude has seen him shoot less (averaging seven shots fewer than last season) and is averaging 11.3 assists per game - a career-best for the guard.
Joe Harris: A
2020-21 Season Record - MPG: 31.3 PPG: 14.8 AST: 2.0 REB: 3.5 FG%: 51.9
In the role Joe Harris plays for the Brooklyn Nets, he is excelling. Harris has long been known as a prolific 3-point scorer and is currently averaging 48.9% from beyond the arc. While he is seeing less of the ball, Harris continues to be crucial to the Nets in the long-run and particularly in the playoffs when they will need a clutch-time scorer apart from the trio of Durant, Irving and Harden.
DeAndre Jordan: B
2020-21 Season Record - MPG: 21.2 PPG: 7.0 AST: 1.8 REB: 7.0 FG%: 78.6
The fact that DeAndre Jordan was set to be the Brooklyn Nets' back-up center this year to Jarrett Allen, yet is now the starting big man speaks volumes of where Brooklyn may look to improve before the trade deadline. Jordan provides efficient scoring, though he is averaging 3 fewer rebounds per game than last season on similar minutes. His age is also a worry for coach Nash and is likely not his first-choice center to go into the offseason with.
Grading the Brooklyn Nets supporting roster
Jeff Green: A
2020-21 Season Record - MPG: 26.0 PPG: 9.1 AST: 1.3 REB: 3.6 FG%: 49.4
Jeff Green is proving to be the veteran the Brooklyn Nets brought him in to be and will prove pivotal on and off the court throughout this season. The fact the Nets got Green for so cheap is a steal with the forward averaging 9.1 points while shooting a career-high 41.8% from the 3-point line. Green can play on the wing or a small ball five for the Nets.
Bruce Brown Jr.: C
2020-21 Season Record - MPG: 18.5 PPG: 6.2 AST: 1.0 REB: 4.5 FG%: 57.0
Being a back-up guard to Kyrie Irving and James Harden would be difficult for most players and Bruce Brown is yet to establish himself as a legitimate bench option for the Nets. The third-year guard is shooting far more efficiently when he does see the floor but lacks creativity that can be relied upon. For a guard however, Brown is a great rebounder and is turning the ball over less than once per game.
Landry Shamet: C
2020-21 Season Record - MPG: 18.2 PPG: 6.9 AST: 1.1 REB: 1.5 FG%: 36.0
Landry Shamet is another of the Brooklyn Nets rotation options yet to establish himself as a legitimate sixth man. Shamet is shooting at a career-low rate, which is particularly worrying when you consider that he has been a reliable knock-down shooter from the 3-point line in the past. Brooklyn attempted to offload the 23 year-old in the Harden deal instead of Allen though the franchise had no takers.
Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot: B
2020-21 Season Record - MPG: 19.3 PPG: 7.2 AST: 1.3 REB: 2.3 FG%: 38.5
Luwawu-Cabarrot completes the list of Brooklyn players with more consistent minutes and has played in each of their games so far. The Frenchman has yet to impress off the Nets bench, scoring and rebounding less than last season on more minutes.
Chris Chiozza: C
2020-21 Season Record - MPG: 9.1 PPG: 3.5 AST: 2.3 REB: 0.9 FG%: 30.0
As a third-string guard for the Brooklyn Nets, Chiozza will see limited minutes this season. In the time he has played, he has proven efficient, though is shooting at a lower percentage from last year.
Tyler Johnson: D
2020-21 Season Record - MPG: 9.0 PPG: 2.3 AST: 0.9 REB: 0.8 FG%: 39.1
Tyler Johnson will be hoping he can return to the form shown in his time with the Miami Heat. After returning from injury, Johnson was able to play 20 minutes and despite not producing much from the bench, he will be hoping to improve his effect on the Nets side.
Norvel Pelle: D
2020-21 Season Record - MPG: 9.3 PPG: 2.0 AST: 0.0 REB: 2.3 FG%: 42.9
Norvel Pelle has only played 27 games in total in the NBA and is yet to show what he can provide to the Brooklyn Nets in the long-run. Nash will be hoping he can provide an effective rotation partner for Jordan.
Reggie Perry - Moved to G-League bubble squad
Noah Vonleh - Insufficient minutes
Spencer Dinwiddie and Nicolas Claxton - Long-term Injuries
