CHICAGO — James Harden didn’t desire to discuss about the refs after the Nets’ loss to the Bulls on Monday night. No matter. His on-court docket demeanor spoke volumes.
After repeatedly using into contact and no longer getting calls — he took simply three free throws all night — Harden used to be so timid after one instance he stared incredulously at the ref, then plopped down on the stanchion making an attempt the so much of manner. When he at final did come by a call after getting raked across the arm, he threw his fingers aloft and perceived to the heavens in mock thanks.
Following the game, he deflected any questions about the calls on Monday or on the novel so-called Harden Rules essentially.
“I don’t desire to keep in touch about it,” Harden mentioned. When it used to be pointed out the Bulls perceived to capture him out of his using sport, he replied, “No, I don’t desire to keep in touch about it. I never obtained … it didn’t capture me out of my sport. I felt adore I performed neatly to the fourth quarter. Within the fourth quarter, none of us performed neatly. It positively didn’t capture me out of my sport.”
Various Nets were more impending. LaMarcus Aldridge scored 19 points, however most efficient four within the 2d half of when he admitted he might also’ve dealt with the novel suggestions better.
“I used to be a tiny rusty on the block and the 2d half of … so I’m positively disenchanted in my play making an attempt to adjust to this novel, ‘We ain’t making no calls’ suggestions or whatever it’s called,” Aldridge mentioned. “But I contemplate it used to be about a performs I essentially come by the vulgar. But it indisputably is what it is miles.”
That wasn’t the absolute most reasonable ingredient in Aldridge cooling off. After the use of the receive-and-roll and his automatic midrange sport to capture honest correct thing about the Bulls’ drop coverage with Nikola Vucevic, the Nets went far from that technique.
“It used to be all receive-and-roll . Their bigs were in a drop and I made my career off of taking that midrange shot, so I knew I used to be going to enjoy time to shoot it or put it on the floor and come by some dwelling to shoot it. That’s why I used to be a mammoth ingredient within the first half of, and within the 2d half of I don’t contemplate we did it as worthy,” Aldridge mentioned.
“But Kevin [Durant] used to be going and James used to be making an attempt to come by to the rim. I’m no longer announcing it’s a execrable ingredient, however that’s why within the first half of I used to be in a position to impact a tiny bit more because of we simply obtained their bigs in receive-and-rolls.”
Nic Claxton (non-COVID illness) used to be out. James Johnson returned after lacking the Raptors sport with left knee soreness, however did not play.
The Nets moreover is named up rookies Cam Thomas and Day’Ron Sharpe from their G-League stints. Both logged 3: 14 with Sharpe having two points, a rebound and a take while Thomas went scoreless with an abet.
Patrick Williams (wrist) and Coby White (left shoulder) were both out for Chicago, however Zach LaVine used to be serve after having recovered from a thumb distress.