G59: James Harden Debut! Sixers @ Timberwolves, 2/25/2022 8pm EST.

[sixers4real]

I think I did alright creating the last game thread, my debut BTW, it went awesome for us, so why not to make another.

IT’S 85 HOURS UNTIL JAMES HARDEN DEBUTS IS A SIXERS UNIFORM!

I've been thinking, and I want to share with all of you (since that crazy Russian guy loves y'all) the best moment that I've ever had as a sixers fan of when I was so anxious to see a player on a court wearing Sixers uniform. Let's go.

Considering I started rooting for Sixers in 2001 (when I was 11 y.o), that's my top moment ever.
Please share with me your feelings.

February 26th, 2005. Player - Chris Webber. He was 32, as is James Harden today. A former MVP candidate joining a former MVP in AI. To me, C-Weeb was supposed to be that second star that could make us East elite. C-Webb was 7/20 from the field in a loss to the Kings at home. And we played against C-Webbs former team, Sacramento Kings. We were up 60-49 after a Webber dunk off an Iverson assist, the atmosphere was were, I was screaming like a child (although I was a child back then), but we lost by 2 points on a Webber game-tying lay-up.
Fun fact: Andre Iguodala was a Sixers starter back then.

Was was your ever favorite moment of welcoming a star to Philly? Please share.

And let's get fired up for Harden debut!

[GoSixersBro]

Great post, sixers4real. I, too, remember the day we traded for C-Webb. I was 14 that day in 2005 and was ecstatic. One of our bigger acquisitions in the last 25 years, but didn't exactly pan out. Also didn't help we had to face the Pistons in the first round of those 2005 Playoffs, who eventually went on to lose in the Finals to San Antonio.

Anyway, excited for Friday and will be pretty bored the next three nights waiting.

[Stanford]

Remember folx, always watch the games

[MVP1992]

You freaked me out.
Saw a game thread and thought ****, I need to reschedule a client tomorrow without notice

[Iverson Armband]

This should have definitely been titled “My friends friend who is a friend of Mark Jackson’s brother told me James Harden is playing 2/25”

[GoSixersBro]

This should have definitely been titled “My friends friend who is a friend of Mark Jackson’s brother told me James Harden is playing 2/25”

Y'all can laugh, but Windy and I are shooting 100% in 2022.

[Arsenal]

Let’s hope the Harden acquisition works out better than Webber. C-Webb was damaged goods.

[mjkvol]

Easy. 1982 ECF game 7 against Boston. We had blown another 3-1 series lead and the town had quit on the Sixers with game 7 in Boston.

The world just assumed the Celtics would win, but led by Julius, Toney, and a stifling defense we rolled 120-107. I'll never forget Billy C throwing his fist in the air when it was close to over, and the bear hug with him and Julius with about a minute to go. Only time I ever cried watching a game. (Well, I did shed a tear when the Eagles won the SB).

We lost the Finals to LA, but it was almost anti-climax. 1983 would bring a title.

[Negrodamus]

I remember where I was standing when ESPN announced we traded for Glenn Robinson and thought "finally, Iverson gets some help". How naive I was.

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

Yeah, we've seen this movie before in the past. Keith Van Horn, Glenn Robinson, Chris Webber. Then we had the mediocre years with Iguodala and made the big hype trade for Andrew Bynum. Got FLEECED HARD On that one. Harden definitely has the CWebb vibe to him. I'm not gonna lie, it's a roll of the dice for sure and I'm a little worried, but I think this will work out for us if Embiid continues his tear and Maxey continues to improve his game. I can't necessarily compare the situations between Harden and Webber because Iverson literally had nobody on that team besides Webber. Iguodala was a rookie, and Korver hadn't really tapped into what he could become yet. We had nothing on that team in terms of competing. This team has a little more talent on it with Tobias Harris, Maxey, and Thybulle. I like the role players we have, I think this will work (just paranoid). Can't wait for Hardens debut!

[Wilfried]

Yeah, we've seen this movie before in the past. Keith Van Horn, Glenn Robinson, Chris Webber. Then we had the mediocre years with Iguodala and made the big hype trade for Andrew Bynum. Got FLEECED HARD On that one. Harden definitely has the CWebb vibe to him. I'm not gonna lie, it's a roll of the dice for sure and I'm a little worried, but I think this will work out for us if Embiid continues his tear and Maxey continues to improve his game. I can't necessarily compare the situations between Harden and Webber because Iverson literally had nobody on that team besides Webber. Iguodala was a rookie, and Korver hadn't really tapped into what he could become yet. We had nothing on that team in terms of competing. This team has a little more talent on it with Tobias Harris, Maxey, and Thybulle. I like the role players we have, I think this will work (just paranoid). Can't wait for Hardens debut!

Webber had an ACL

And to be fair, nobody could co-exist with Iverson (from a winning perspective).

[GoSixersBro]

Yeah, we've seen this movie before in the past. Keith Van Horn, Glenn Robinson, Chris Webber. Then we had the mediocre years with Iguodala and made the big hype trade for Andrew Bynum. Got FLEECED HARD On that one. Harden definitely has the CWebb vibe to him. I'm not gonna lie, it's a roll of the dice for sure and I'm a little worried, but I think this will work out for us if Embiid continues his tear and Maxey continues to improve his game. I can't necessarily compare the situations between Harden and Webber because Iverson literally had nobody on that team besides Webber. Iguodala was a rookie, and Korver hadn't really tapped into what he could become yet. We had nothing on that team in terms of competing. This team has a little more talent on it with Tobias Harris, Maxey, and Thybulle. I like the role players we have, I think this will work (just paranoid). Can't wait for Hardens debut!

Funny about the Bynum trade because I feel like all teams got fleeced besides Orlando. The Lakers saga with Dwight Howard was disastrous. Nuggets got Iguodala, who basically cheated on them and fled to Golden State.

As for the Webber comparison, I think it's extreme. Webber suffered a serious injury in '03 that had him miss almost an entire year and limited his game moving forward. He comes back for the last 23 games of 2004, and his scoring ability in the postseason is clearly not the same as pre-injury.

I don't think it's nearly as much of gamble as Webber. Both guys were around the same age when they became Sixers, but Harden's style of play on the perimeter should hold more longevity than Webber, who lived in the paint, then was forced to drift outside and rely on long, inefficient jumpers. Also, as much as I love(d) A.I., Harden joining Embiid is way better for cohesion than pairing C-Webb with Iverson.

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

Yeah, we've seen this movie before in the past. Keith Van Horn, Glenn Robinson, Chris Webber. Then we had the mediocre years with Iguodala and made the big hype trade for Andrew Bynum. Got FLEECED HARD On that one. Harden definitely has the CWebb vibe to him. I'm not gonna lie, it's a roll of the dice for sure and I'm a little worried, but I think this will work out for us if Embiid continues his tear and Maxey continues to improve his game. I can't necessarily compare the situations between Harden and Webber because Iverson literally had nobody on that team besides Webber. Iguodala was a rookie, and Korver hadn't really tapped into what he could become yet. We had nothing on that team in terms of competing. This team has a little more talent on it with Tobias Harris, Maxey, and Thybulle. I like the role players we have, I think this will work (just paranoid). Can't wait for Hardens debut!

Webber had an ACL

And to be fair, nobody could co-exist with Iverson (from a winning perspective).

Yeah, I'll give you that. Iverson was literally an impossible fit back then with anyone. Larry Brown was the only one that ever made it work. Like I said, this team is much better than the 04 team that traded for Webber. Different situations all together.

[Mik317]

we are going to get blown theee **** out in this game.

the vibes are too good...got to bring in some negadelphia flavoring.

[Jailblazers7]

I’ll be in the stands for this one (I moved to Minnesota last summer)!

I was probably the most excited for the Mutombo trade in 01. I was 10/11 and fully obsessed with Iverson so I was convinced that with some help he could carry us to a title. Didn’t quite work out but it led to a magical Finals runs that is one of my favorite sports memories.

[the_process]

Easy. 1982 ECF game 7 against Boston. We had blown another 3-1 series lead and the town had quit on the Sixers with game 7 in Boston.

The world just assumed the Celtics would win, but led by Julius, Toney, and a stifling defense we rolled 120-107. I'll never forget Billy C throwing his fist in the air when it was close to over, and the bear hug with him and Julius with about a minute to go. Only time I ever cried watching a game. (Well, I did shed a tear when the Eagles won the SB).

We lost the Finals to LA, but it was almost anti-climax. 1983 would bring a title.

That was the "Beat LA" game.

[Eyeamok]

I loved the energy James Harden displayed against the Bucks. "Thank you !" "Thank you !"

[GoSixersBro]

I loved the energy James Harden displayed against the Bucks. "Thank you !" "Thank you !"

I feel like the media/fans of other teams ragging on Harden is just going to ignite James to be a better teammate. Everyone on Twatter sounds like jilted ex-lovers and on the other side all of the sudden the most meme'd player of the last 5 years is now a golden boy with potential. That's the Philadelphia effect, y'all.

[stormi]

inb4 15 point loss

[76ciology]

How do you stop the Harden-Embiid PnR? Either easy lay-up, wide open pull up for Harden or Embiid feasting against a smaller defender.