Welcome James Harden!

[SixthStreet]

He's going to be back of course. And it's the right move because to me I'm not surprised that Harden without Embiid can no longer drag 4 other flawed players on the court to great results like he did in Houston.

Embiid has always needed a player like Harden. Today's Harden just as much needs a player like Embiid. It'll all be fine when they are both available. It'll go sideways without one of them.

That's just what it is.

[zimpy27]

I think he's worth 150m/5 at the absolute most. Realistically, he's worth 120m/5 but cap going up and I feel safe with 150m/5 considering that..

I'm interested by what Philly pays to keep him though. I think they keep him for sure.

[Ferry Avenue]

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[76ciology]

James Harden had 15 potential assists in Game 1 against Miami, and 12 in Game 2.

He's creating a lot of good looks for others, but the Sixers' role players have been cold at the wrong time.

[phillynative]

Hes a huge ball stopper too. Waste alot of possessions just dribbling the ball aimlessly than passing it to someone at the last sec. And then when the ball is being swung around and he catches it he puts the ball back down instead of shooting it when open. With Doc being so open to critisize Maxey and others mistakes on offense you would think he would bring that up .

[stormi]

Hes a huge ball stopper too. Waste alot of possessions just dribbling the ball aimlessly than passing it to someone at the last min . And then when the ball is being swung around and he catches it puts the ball back fown instead of shooting it. With Doc being so open to critisize Maxey and others mistakes on offense you would think he would bring that up .

Yea, but this isn't really the case when Embiid plays. The issue with this roster is when Harden isn't controlling the rock and Embiid isn't out there, this team literally cannot generate a proper look. Maxey is a speed merchant, Tobias is a shaky creator and nobody else on this team can dribble.

We have too many guys that are theoretical shooters, but can't dribble or defend. I would throw Niang, Shake, Kork and probably Danny to some extent in this category. And that's our bench. Not good enough imo.

[phillynative]

Hes a huge ball stopper too. Waste alot of possessions just dribbling the ball aimlessly than passing it to someone at the last min . And then when the ball is being swung around and he catches it puts the ball back fown instead of shooting it. With Doc being so open to critisize Maxey and others mistakes on offense you would think he would bring that up .

Yea, but this isn't really the case when Embiid plays. The issue with this roster is when Harden isn't controlling the rock and Embiid isn't out there, this team literally cannot generate a proper look. Maxey is a speed merchant, Tobias is a shaky creator and nobody else on this team can dribble.

We have too many guys that are theoretical shooters, but can't dribble or defend. I would throw Niang, Shake, Kork and probably Danny to some extent in this category. And that's our bench. Not good enough imo.

I agree but thats why you swing the ball around the peremiter and hope that whoever ends open takes the shot which is more than like going to be open as defenders are chasing the ball. He refuses to do so and that doesnt help an already struggling halfcourt offense.

[mjkvol]

Hes a huge ball stopper too. Waste alot of possessions just dribbling the ball aimlessly than passing it to someone at the last min . And then when the ball is being swung around and he catches it puts the ball back fown instead of shooting it. With Doc being so open to critisize Maxey and others mistakes on offense you would think he would bring that up .

Stormi just said it, but without Embiid on the floor Harden just has no trust in who's out there with him to cash in open looks, so he is putting it on himself. And Spoelstra knows this, and has his defense set up to smother Harden.

It's a Catch-22, and we aren't going to find a solution until the off season.

[Ferry Avenue]

Hes a huge ball stopper too. Waste alot of possessions just dribbling the ball aimlessly than passing it to someone at the last min . And then when the ball is being swung around and he catches it puts the ball back fown instead of shooting it. With Doc being so open to critisize Maxey and others mistakes on offense you would think he would bring that up .

Stormi just said it, but without Embiid on the floor Harden just has no trust in who's out there with him to cash in open looks, so he is putting it on himself. And Spoelstra knows this, and has his defense set up to smother Harden.

It's a Catch-22, and we aren't going to find a solution until the off season.

That really doesn't fit with the number of shots he's taken in both games -- 13 in game 1 and 15 in game 2 -- and what's happening with the other two key players on the team right now. Both Maxey and Harris have taken more shots and played better than Harden in both games.

Maxey and Harris are fueling the team primarily right now, while Harden looks vastly diminished as a player. He's folded in the second halves of both games, when the team needed output from him to be competitive at those times. There's really no way to rehabilitate Harden's performance right now with some explanation focusing on his surroundings.

You won't find a knowledgeable national-level pundit -- JJ Redick et al. -- who ascribes Harden's recent performance to his surroundings. All of them to a man talk about how Harden looks to be vastly diminished as a player.

[phillynative]

Hes a huge ball stopper too. Waste alot of possessions just dribbling the ball aimlessly than passing it to someone at the last min . And then when the ball is being swung around and he catches it puts the ball back fown instead of shooting it. With Doc being so open to critisize Maxey and others mistakes on offense you would think he would bring that up .

Stormi just said it, but without Embiid on the floor Harden just has no trust in who's out there with him to cash in open looks, so he is putting it on himself. And Spoelstra knows this, and has his defense set up to smother Harden.

It's a Catch-22, and we aren't going to find a solution until the off season.

Well hes not able to create the shots he used to either. Thats why when the ball swings to him and hes open he should take it, hes not doing the team any favors just dribbling it not getting by anyone than handing it off right b4 the clock expires.

[mjkvol]

Hes a huge ball stopper too. Waste alot of possessions just dribbling the ball aimlessly than passing it to someone at the last min . And then when the ball is being swung around and he catches it puts the ball back fown instead of shooting it. With Doc being so open to critisize Maxey and others mistakes on offense you would think he would bring that up .

Stormi just said it, but without Embiid on the floor Harden just has no trust in who's out there with him to cash in open looks, so he is putting it on himself. And Spoelstra knows this, and has his defense set up to smother Harden.

It's a Catch-22, and we aren't going to find a solution until the off season.

Well hes not able to create the shots he used to either. Thats why when the ball swings to him and hes open he should take it, hes not doing the team any favors just dribbling it not getting by anyone than handing it off right b4 the clock expires.

He's not the player he used to be, I'm not sure that's breaking news.

With an off season to rest and a retooled roster, if Harden is doing the same things, we'll have a problem. This roster sucks - Harden knows it, Spo knows it, Morey knows it - everyone seems to know it but fans that want blood from a stone and the national media that wants to bury Harden.

Not picking on you because I respect your opinions, but a little reality check is in order for anyone that wants a 33 year old with a bad hammy to all of a sudden become a healthy, dominant 27 year old again.

[Murray_17]

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[mjkvol]

I don't know if that's better than just signing him to a team-friendly deal this summer. I'm sure they aren't going to wait until summer 2023 to work that out, so why not just do a 5/150 right now and be done with it?

[PhillyFan11]

Stormi just said it, but without Embiid on the floor Harden just has no trust in who's out there with him to cash in open looks, so he is putting it on himself. And Spoelstra knows this, and has his defense set up to smother Harden.

It's a Catch-22, and we aren't going to find a solution until the off season.

Well hes not able to create the shots he used to either. Thats why when the ball swings to him and hes open he should take it, hes not doing the team any favors just dribbling it not getting by anyone than handing it off right b4 the clock expires.

He's not the player he used to be, I'm not sure that's breaking news.

With an off season to rest and a retooled roster, if Harden is doing the same things, we'll have a problem. This roster sucks - Harden knows it, Spo knows it, Morey knows it - everyone seems to know it but fans that want blood from a stone and the national media that wants to bury Harden.

Not picking on you because I respect your opinions, but a little reality check is in order for anyone that wants a 33 year old with a bad hammy to all of a sudden become a healthy, dominant 27 year old again.

No matter what it comes down to, at this point Harden is a guard than can neither defend or shoot 3’s well…what value is that in the modern NBA?? He’s a ball dominant distributor that with give you 10 assists and 4 turnovers per game while scoring an inefficient 20-22 points.

Also, this hamstring injury has been going on for a solid year now. When does the excuse end? Especially when the whole world knows Harden doesn’t take care of his body like a star should…he’s played a ton of basketball and the tread is coming off the tires. It’s painfully obvious. If it’s not a hamstring it will be another ailment next. Investing a lucrative long term deal into Harden is a sinking ship.

[76ciology]

Lack of burst or getting blocked on drives by a lot does not concern me about harden.

What concerns me is his 3pt shooting. The accuracy of spot up 3s and step back 3s. Maybe its bias because I like to watch his highlights back then (pre-pandemic) but I have trust issues with his 3s.

I dont mind him driving less. Just as long as he improves the accuracy of his shot, get guys open looks and get them the ball and being not so bad on defense.

[elchengue20]

On the bright side, if he continues with this level of sucking i dont think anybody is going to offer him a full max for multiple years.

In that case, if we just dont bid again ourselves maybe we can sign him for a team friendly deal.

[Wilfried]

On the bright side, if he continues with this level of sucking i dont think anybody is going to offer him a full max for multiple years.

In that case, if we just dont bid again ourselves maybe we can sign him for a team friendly deal.

We were also bidding against ourselves when signing Tobias to his contract

[marcush]

Rekon he will just quit again soon after Daryl gives him that extension. Unfortunately for us there won’t be any team dumb enough to take on the deal.

[76ciology]

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Must watch.

[76ciology]

^

Ben Simmons and Embiid PnR possessions 4 per game 17-18

…Ben Simmons and Embiid PnR possessions 19 per game

#1 in PnR points per possessions…

More than Paul and Ayton