In Sunday’s Game 4 win over Miami, the Sixers got to see the version of James Harden they’ve been waiting for, writes Tim Bontemps of ESPN. Harden looked like the perennial MVP candidate he was in Houston as he scored 31 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter, and made six three-pointers, his most in a single game since being acquired from the Nets in February.
Harden took control from the start, taking 18 shots and 10 three-point attempts, which marked his second-highest totals in both categories since coming to Philadelphia. He also shot 10 free throws, the most he’s had in a game since the playoffs began. With two straight wins since Joel Embiid returned, the Sixers are feeling good as they head back to Miami in a tied series.
“We’re getting more confident as the series goes on,” Harden said. “Those first two games [were] a blur. But obviously, having Joel and having our full team, we kind of know what to expect. We know where to execute on both ends of the ball. It just makes the job a lot easier. Think about: We’re still a fairly new team. We’re damn near two months. So when we finally catch a rhythm and finally find something that works, Joel goes off for a couple games. So we’re finally settling into the series, and we’ve had some great things that have worked tonight and that we can capitalize off in Game 5.”
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- The Celtics‘ turnaround can be traced to a January game at Washington, Bontemps observes in a separate story. Coming off a tough loss to the Trail Blazers, Boston took advantage of Jayson Tatum‘s 51-point night in a rout of the Wizards. From that point through the end of the regular season, the Celtics posted the NBA’s best record at 28-7 and led the league in both offensive and defensive rating. “After that game, we just had this mentality and mindset and this sense of urgency that we can feel that a change was starting,” Marcus Smart said. “Once that got rolling, and we got on the right track, it was just smooth sailing from there.”
- Coach Ime Udoka believes the changes the Celtics made at the trade deadline were critical to the team’s success, Bontemps adds. They acquired Derrick White from the Spurs, filling the roles that previously belonged to Josh Richardson and Dennis Schroder. “If I could have picked the guy who would have been the perfect guy to come in and complement our group, it’s [White],” Udoka said. “He’s a better offensive player than J-Rich, and a much better defender than Dennis, so you kind of get those guys combined into one.”
- Brian Lewis of The New York Post traces the significant events involving Nets forward Ben Simmons since he played his last game and suggests there’s increased optimism about next season in the wake of his back surgery.
Best 2 of 3. Doc deserves credit. He is letting Butler get his but has been running heat off the 3pt line. Last 2 games heat 14-65 from 3. Sixers can win this series.
They were missing wide open threes last night. The Heat beat themselves…
Lol. The sixers shot 54% from the floor and 48% from 3. Get a clue
Wow, you rarely hear a coach saying anything negative about ex players. I like it, a bit of honesty! White is an excellent fit.
Wow, a coach telling the truth…imagine if Vogel did this during his time as the Laker’s head coach!
White is a bum. Richardson was better
Richardson has a better jumpshot. White is better at everything else.
Stonkzilla, White is still performing much better with Udoka’s gameplan than with Steven’s. White is also better with the Cs this year in almost every statline compared to Richardson.
One of Harden’s best game in the postseason. That being said, he still hasnt won anything. He needs to beat Heat and get to NBA Finals to earn any respect as premier postseason Superstar. Heat still wins in 7 games. NBA needs to make money all most of the series will go 6-7gms.
Harden has been seen for the past 6-7 seasons as a regular season player. He’s one of the best shooting guards still in this game, and I’m definitely rooting for him.
Harden was huge for us towards the end of the game. I was at work and managed to hide away and catch most of the last half of the game. Tyrese Maxey was also phenomenal defensively. He was trying to apply full court pressure but without over committing himself.
Other than that, I though Embiid was quiet offensively as was Tobias Harris. They spent a lot of minutes with Bam off and playing small with Tucker on Embiid, Butler and Oladipo up top on Harden and Maxey. With Strus and Lowry in the corners guarding Thybulle and Harris. If the shots weren’t going I would’ve love to see them give the ball to Harris and have him go at Lowry or Strus. That to me sounds like easy buckets.
It’s no surprise we have turned this series around now Embiid is back healthy. I feel a little bit confident knowing that if he can stay on the court we can continue to get wins.
Making the ECF will be a big achievement having always fallen short. Bucks or Celtics whoever makes it out will be the hardest match up yet.
Cmon Sixers
Harden is a facilitator. People take this as a criticism. He came to the nets and sixers and he dropped to about 22 points a game but he also increased his assists from 7 to about 10.5…..
Harden has turned into a true point guard imo. I want my point guard to average 10 assists a game.
Exactly. Much better PG than Ben Simmons. Needs to shoot better like he did last night. I’m more optimistic by the day with Embiid back and Harden being aggressive.
Congrats to Sixer fans!
Nice to see the cheap shot Harden trolls silenced. The man is easily one of the best players in the NBA and has been for 5-7 years now. Criticizing one player because his team isn’t winning championships is simply absurd in any team sport.
The man is a joy to watch play. A pity some are so full of both hate and themselves that they can’t enjoy a legendary NBA player at his peak.
And kudos to Daryl Morey. He stood up to the BS and got what he knew was the right thing.
@Samuel
Ummmmm….a lot of that criticism is earned because he comes into camp out of shape, quits on team when things get uncomfortable and has twice shown a complete lack of desire for the game to force trades once he’d verbally demanded a trade. His shooting averages are down in FG% and 3pt% both this year and vs his career playoff numbers. Sooooo… yeah.
No Knicks fan should be speaking on losers.
the “overweight” garbage is so absurd though. don’t talk garbage on a dude’s weight when he’s significantly more athletic than you. many do though.
You need to google “peak:”
Butler has been ungodly,with that being said the BEARD finally shut the ignorant pie holes who follow the narrative but know nothing about the game. The true MVP jojo and the BEARD looking to get this series over in 6 .
Harden didn’t change any sort of narrative because of one game.
He needs a chip to do that.
Right over your skull friend, right over your skull.
Dude, you’re an unabashed homer.
You don’t talk hoops. You cheer whoever plays for your team.
Harden didn’t change anything with his last performance. Obviously.
“Harden finally shut the ignorant pie holes”
Ok.
Oh man…I think the narrative might continue.
What do you think?
There’s always optimism around the baby Ben Simmons.
Good to see Harden play like that last night, but I’m skeptical he’s now “back” to his old self. Embiid might have an otherworldly MVP snub performance up his sleeve for game 5, but he’s still ailing, and even more so, when he’s off the floor, the Sixers are a different and lesser team. They’ll need Harden to continue the Game 4 emotion and shooting to keep this train going to ECF.