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Any doubts about Harden after last night? We know that Embiid will always work on his game, so he and James will maximize their rapport. But it looked like Maxey was the immediate beneficiary. Prior to the trade, Maxey was hard at work developing his point guard skills. But with the acquisition of a world class point guard, Maxey was able to slide back into what he is really built for: a lightening quick scorer. So as much as Harden is going to enhance Embiid’s game, and he is, it could be fascinating to see what kind of pyrotechnics will emerge from our new guard combination.

rzzzzz wrote:Any doubts about Harden after last night? We know that Embiid will always work on his game, so he and James will maximize their rapport. But it looked like Maxey was the immediate beneficiary. Prior to the trade, Maxey was hard at work developing his point guard skills. But with the acquisition of a world class point guard, Maxey was able to slide back into what he is really built for: a lightening quick scorer. So as much as Harden is going to enhance Embiid’s game, and he is, it could be fascinating to see what kind of pyrotechnics will emerge from our new guard combination.

It’s amazing how easy buckets came with Harden on floor there was sooooo much open space

rzzzzz wrote:Any doubts about Harden after last night? We know that Embiid will always work on his game, so he and James will maximize their rapport. But it looked like Maxey was the immediate beneficiary. Prior to the trade, Maxey was hard at work developing his point guard skills. But with the acquisition of a world class point guard, Maxey was able to slide back into what he is really built for: a lightening quick scorer. So as much as Harden is going to enhance Embiid’s game, and he is, it could be fascinating to see what kind of pyrotechnics will emerge from our new guard combination.

Exactly.

Let’s say in every game there are 20 tough shots. Heavily challenged or momentum/game changing shots. Prior to Harden, Tobias and Maxey have to take some of these shots. And its such infuriating to see Maxey being passive and Tobi taking those mid range jumpers off the post. It is that way because Maxey and Tobi are just not legit second option scorers.

Right now we have Harden and Embiid to share almost all of these tough shots that Maxey and Tobias can be comfortable taking non tough shots like spot ups, off gravity generated by Harden and Embiid or transition baskets. Garbage baskets as some would would refer.

I love what Harden unlocks for Maxey. Neubeck made a great point in his write up that Maxey is now freed up to expend more energy on defense which showed last night even if he picked up some cheap fouls.

He doesnt need to worry about playing point so he gets to fly up the court in transition, attack on offense, wide open 3s, etc. It just dramatically simplified the game for him and let’s him play to his strengths. AND he got the PG experience this year to run the second unit and handle more responsibility when needed. The future is bright for sure.

The acquisition of Harden is going to make Maxey an all-star level player and turn Thybulle into a two-way beast if he can hit those corner threes at anything close to 38%.

Maxey going back to his natural role of scoring the ball instead of worrying about getting everyone involved might be the single biggest factor moving forward along with the Harden/Embiid P&R becoming this generation's Stockton/Malone.

Parker, Manu and Duncan? Thybulle is a corner 3 away from being Bowen. I guess that makes Tobias our Stephen Jackson? Rasho?

youngcrev wrote:Parker, Manu and Duncan? Thybulle is a corner 3 away from being Bowen. I guess that makes Tobias our Stephen Jackson? Rasho?

Yup. Called that combo pre-trade to all the anti-Harden folks. Maxey now needs to learn to make that simple dump off pass when centers rotate off Embiid to meet him at the rim when he attacks the close outs.

The whole team looked like they were let out of jail last night. Harden creates so many easy hoops for everyone I think they were surprised frankly

Agree w all the points being made in regards to Tyrese.

And a 21 year old being able to learn from a legend? Wow.

Hate to be the Knicks tomorrow.