All-Star Nets guard James Harden will miss the fourth game of Brooklyn’s second-round playoff series against the Bucks on Sunday with right hamstring tightness, tweets Malika Andrews of ESPN.
Harden’s Nets teammate Jeff Green, meanwhile, has seen his status upgraded to questionable ahead of Game 4. Green has been sidelined from Brooklyn’s postseason with a left plantar fascia strain since the third game of the Nets’ first-round series against the Celtics. The Nets would go on to defeat Boston 4-1. Nets head coach Steve Nash had indicated ahead of Game 3 against the Bucks that a Green return appeared imminent.
Nash noted that Harden is “progressing” from his right hamstring injury, though Nash stopped short of specifying a timeline for Harden’s return. The Nets have survived ably without one of their three All-Stars and a key forward in Green thus far during the series. Brooklyn is currently up 2-1 against Milwaukee, with the lone loss the result of a seemingly fluky drop in offensive production from Brooklyn’s bench.
Guard Bruce Brown has started in Harden’s place, while reserve point guard Mike James has seen an increased minutes load. The defensive-oriented Brown has also taken some of Green’s minutes in the rotation, functioning as a (very) small ball center in pick-and-rolls. All-Star Nets point guard Kyrie Irving has taken over more ball-handling duties with Harden sidelined.
What type of hamstring for Harden?
Grade 1
Grade 1 plus
Grade 2
I am guessing is Grade 1 plus
It takes at least 10 days to heal
Both Brooklyn and Utah have the luxury of resting their starting PG until they fully recover from their respective injuries. Maybe wait until the Finals.
for all we know he might be basically 100% at this point. there’s no need to play him unless the series becomes tied or the bucks go up 3-2. might as well rest him
Thanks for that doc
Even Green doesn’t want to play, he has been garbage. That series is set to cruise control.
If the Bucks somehow even the series, I could see Harden playing some limited minutes in Game 5. If the Nets win, you won’t see him til the conference finals.
Even in the ECF, he could sit out Game 1 against the Sixers and gauge how well the Nets do. Embiid’s a little hobbled, maybe he’d sit out a couple of games if the Nets won Game 1 big.
A hamstring injury like this isn’t going to fully heal for awhile, and that it’s healed won’t be known definitively in advance of a decision to play. When to give a try is a question of the risk/reward. More time off, less risk of re-injury. But the later a re-injury occurs, the more likely he’ll be out for the playoffs. As long as the Nets are in control of the series, he’ll likely sit, even if it feels like it’s OK.
Nets got this series… Rest Harden up for th ECF…