The Sixers have been successful since trading for James Harden last month, but he’s still trying to find the right balance between scoring and setting up teammates, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Harden has averaged 13.7 shots per game since coming to Philadelphia, which would be his lowest total in a decade.
“You have another guy [Joel Embiid] right now who’s leading the league in scoring on my team,” Harden said after Friday’s win over the Mavericks. “Night-in and night-out, he’s used to, he’s confident of getting buckets.”
Coach Doc Rivers said earlier this week that he would like to see Harden shoot more frequently, and Embiid expressed the same sentiment on Friday, saying the former MVP needs to be more aggressive heading into the playoffs. The two players spread out the scoring duties against Dallas, with Embiid contributing 21 of his 32 points in the first half and Harden scoring 11 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter.
“I’m just trying to find a balance like I talked about before, when to be a play-maker,” Harden said. “I think tonight especially in that fourth quarter, me attacking, attacking, attacking, the play-making ability is going to come because we got lobs, we got threes. So that’s going to come with my aggressiveness. You just got to read the game. And tonight, I felt I read the game well.”
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- Rivers indicated that he might consider resting some of his players, particularly with a tough back-to-back looming for the Sixers Sunday and Monday against the Raptors and Heat, per Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer. That wraps up a stretch of six games in nine days with two back-to-backs and a pair of one-game road trips. “You’d rather have this at the beginning of the year,” Rivers said. “But every team, at some point, goes through a stretch like this.”
- A crucial mistake in Friday’s loss to the Lakers should be a learning experience for Raptors rookie Scottie Barnes, states Doug Smith of The Toronto Star. Although Barnes had a great game with 31 points and 17 rebounds, his late inbounds pass was intercepted by Russell Westbrook, who hit a three-pointer to send the game to overtime. “It wasn’t just him,” Fred VanVleet said. “He really gave us a chance to be in the game, dominated both ends of the floor, had a couple unfortunate plays but … I’ve certainly had my share of them (and) it sucks in the moment but all you can do for those times is grow and get better at it, and Scottie will do that.”
- Celtics guard Aaron Nesmith has been upgraded to questionable for Sunday’s game, tweets Jared Weiss of The Athletic. Nesmith has missed the past two weeks with a sprained right ankle.
8-2 with harden but a tough stretch of games coming up for sixers
Scottie was a beast in that game. He made a bad pass and Brody hit a a prayer three. It happens.
With or without Harden, they haven’t shown anything yet that makes me confident in their chances of reaching the NBA Finals. As it stands now, I don’t think they can win a series against Boston or Miami, and probably Brooklyn as well.
How many Sixers games have you watched this year? I’m betting it’s fewer than 5.
I half agree. They need to work out the kinks still. They’ll have a tall order in facing the Bucks in round 2 though. Can’t have the mental breakdowns again defensively and let good teams get back into games. Also cant go full blinders jacking up 3s and forgetting to run an offense.
They lack depth, have trouble defending more athletic teams, take too many threes for a team that isn’t good there.. They’ve gotten almost nothing from some players that were counted on, such as Korkmaz and Green. It seems Harden doesn’t get off many high percentage shots. I like Maxey a lot, he’s certainly moving in the right direction, but isn’t yet a scorer they can rely on game in, game out. Harris hasn’t been able to pick up the slack.
Tobias Harris looks like the man left out. Just 5 points last night. 2-9, 0-4 from three. Maybe he’s not getting the ball in his spots now?
Nice win by Lakers. But then you lose to Wizards ……. Ouch !!!!
Can’t believe Bron is going for the most glorified record in Sports. Never thought I’d see it in my lifetime. This alone is worth trading for CAAAAVS …….
Everyone on this board should look up Hardens playoff success.
????????????????????????????
He has none ……….
He and Embiid cause of the inside outside gm. Can be a lethal combo. But it’s all talk and hope now. Show us please. Like I’ve said before. Philly needs the 15 ast Harden. Cause he can always get his. In playoffs they will and can affect Harden with team D. So getting his team to believe and trust him as a playmaker. Is a big key to me. Only teams win in the playoffs. Harden will be a more effective scorer. If he is getting his team involved with ast. Makes gm easier for every Sixer.
Straight after the garden trade they were talking about potentially moving Tobias Harris.
I said it was all talk and they wouldn’t move him until letting the season play out and seeing how he fits with Harden and Embiid.
That said I don’t think he’s adjusted that well to now being the 3rd/4th scoring option. He doesn’t offer enough defensively, he’s more of a ball handler that just a spot up shooter and it’s kinda just money down the drain.
It’ll be interesting to see what teams will be interested in him and what we could potentially get back.
Like maybe Tobias Harris, Isiah Joe and a protected first for Harrison Barnes and Richuan Holmes.
Barnes is a better 3rd/4th option scorer it’s what he’s done his most of his career. He’s also a much better defender. He’s got loads of playoff experience. Holmes would be a really nice young centre to have off the bench and could mean we get to rest Embiid more next season.
Kings get Harris who they showed interest in when we were talking about Ben Simmons deals. They also get young Isiah Joe and a protected first.
That’s not bad. Cause Kings can use more scoring at the 3. Tobias, Fox, Sabonis is a good mix imo.
As a Sixers fan I’d be more than happy with
1. Maxey. Austin Rivers. Shake
2. Harden. Green. Theo Pinson (for the vibes)
3. Thybulle. Korkmaz. Justin Jackson
4. Barnes. Niang. Millsap (bring him back)
5. Embiid. Holmes Bassey
Harden and Embiid elite duo.
Maxey chopping it up and Barnes as a 3rd/4th option. Thybulle locking people down, Barnes helping out defensively aswell.
Off the bench Baby Rivers comes back, Danny Green does his thing, Milton smacks in threes, Niang smacks some threes and Holmes adds minutes down low. Pinson brings the vibes and gets the bench jumping around. Millsap plays the locker room vet role and Jackson and Korkmaz battle for minutes.
Championship team right here
13.7 fga true. But he’s getting to the line 9.8 times a game which is probably more important.
These last two Sixers games were some wild s**t! :-D
They lost with a full roster to Toronto at home, blowing a 15+ point lead (same against Denver recently). Then, without Embiid and Harden, beat #1 Miami in the second game of a back-to-back.