The Sixers Look Scary

[Snotbubbles]

Harden/Maxey/Thybulle/Harris/Embiid is a strong lineup.
Sixers don't have a lot of depth on their bench though -- Green, Niang, Korkmaz?

Two guys who can be ready to contribute are Milton and WCS. Milton averaged like 14ppg on good %s during the playoff bubble. WCS has always been a plus defender and rebounder while he projects to be one of those Nets bigs who could be good at screen, roll and lobs.

Isaiah Joe, Bassey and Paul Reed are three young talents to watch. Joe is a deadeye shooter who was impressive during the preseason. Bassey is a lotto caliber pick big and averaged something like 13rpg and 3bpg per 36. I do think Bassey should be our back-up C. Then Reed is Gleague MVP or something, he has done a good job defending Giannis and I think there’s a good chance Reed will be our long term 4.

Then upcoming is Jaden Springer, who some projects to be Harden or Maxey’s likely long term partner because of his ability to defend and score.

Maybe we trade Maxey along with Tobi’s contract to free up a max cap space in the offseason. When that happen, we’d probably start Joe or Springer at the backcourt.

Yeah, the Sixers really lack depth. Bringing up guys like Milton and Willie Cauley Stein as "ready to contribute" proves it. WCS is about out of the NBA.

They need to reload in the offseason.

With Embiid and Harden you're going to get those vet "ring chasers" signing on in the off-season.

[jstross]

I don't see MAxey going anywhere. He fits nicely with Harden. Thybulle I could see going.

[Dubnation]

Anything less than a championship this season is a bust. No other team has two mvp level players. No excuses for Embiid if he flops in the playoffs as usual.

Agreed. If last night is any indication, there aren't any teams on their level.

Nothing personal - I don't necessarily mean this as a jab at you - but what the f is going on around here?

Two weeks ago the narrative was the Sixers got FLEECED. So, now the new narrative is going to be that anything less than winning the chip means that they are a failure?

Do I have the board right here?

Those of you on the GB that have done this complete 180 have no shame. None at all.

Welcome to RealGM. Home of graduate level advanced mental gymnastics.


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

[Cubbies2120]

Embiid was +90 in the series against the Raptors. Even if his "counting" numbers were down, he clearly had a positive impact on the game when he was in there. In that series, the Sixers were THIRTEEN POINTS BETTER PER GAME than the Raptors when Embiid was on the floor. He played FORTY FIVE MINUTES in game 7, and in the three minutes he did not play, the Sixers were MINUS ELEVEN.

Spin THAT, haters.

Oh so now +- matters in a single game and series sample size, but not when other players are setting all time records with it? https://thesportsrush.com/nba-news-nikola-jokic-only-trails-lebron-james-and-michael-jordan-already-the-2021-mvp-claims-the-third-spot-on-the-all-time-box-plus-minus-after-touching-15000-career-minutes/

Incredible the mental gymnastics being used. If it matters, then the people who are setting the all time records can't be discounted, right?

Embiid was 6/18 because Marc Gasol matched him minute for minute (both played 45 mins). That's 33%.

Kawhi was the best player on the court in that game and he drilled the GOAT playoff buzzer beater right over...you guessed it...

[JujitsuFlip]

They really do, this starting 5, if they can stay healthy, look out!

[Blazing_royale]

the next Kobe/Shaq duel folks. Ain't see nothing like this in a while.

[USWAY]

One of the externalities of Harden making things so easy for Embiid is he looked so fresh on defense end of the game. Was swatting everything in his pass. Elite 4th quarter rim protection. Before he came back on the Knicks were getting whatever they wanted at the rim.

[kuclas]

Having harden as the point guard has really unleashed Maxey. Kid is super fast on transition. It’s a catch-22 for teams if they want to stick around for offensive rebounds. Or risk sixers getting the defensive rebound and transition buckets with harden leading a secondary break and Maxey out front.

[bebopdeluxe]

Wait a second. All of the "experts" told me that this wouldn't work, because Harden like to work the pick and roll, and Embiid isn't a pick and roll guy...and we KNOW that Embiid can't adjust his game to run the pick and roll...

Right?

[MotownMadness]

Wait a second. All of the "experts" told me that this wouldn't work, because Harden like to work the pick and roll, and Embiid isn't a pick and roll guy...and we KNOW that Embiid can't adjust his game to run the pick and roll...

Right?

Who said that?

[GeorgeMarcus]

I love that Maxey gets to focus on what he does best now: scoring. His 3pt shooting (an even 40% after today) has been such a welcomed surprise, and his energy on the floor is contagious. It's hard not to love the kid

[MotownMadness]

the next Kobe/Shaq duel folks. Ain't see nothing like this in a while.

Harden aint Kobe, Kobe was a warrior that also played defense and took basketball very serious to a crazy competitive level.

They're the next Harden/Embiid

[kuclas]

Wait a second. All of the "experts" told me that this wouldn't work, because Harden like to work the pick and roll, and Embiid isn't a pick and roll guy...and we KNOW that Embiid can't adjust his game to run the pick and roll...

Right?

Basically just need Maxey or Milton or even Harris/green waiting on the corner 3 line when the pick and roll happens. There is absolutely no way for a team to defend it. Defense can collapse. But that gives open jumper to harden OR EMBIID. Which they can make.

Or harden or embiid roll to the rim.

I don’t even think sixers even need to settle
For open 3 point shots with the pick and roll. The drive to the rim from the opposite corner may be the more money ball player.

[eyeatoma]

Wait a second. All of the "experts" told me that this wouldn't work, because Harden like to work the pick and roll, and Embiid isn't a pick and roll guy...and we KNOW that Embiid can't adjust his game to run the pick and roll...

Right?

Who said that?

90% of RealGm, Twitter, and NBA Mainstream media lol.

[therealbig3]

The Sixers are really good, but they have a big 2 with some nice role players. They're beatable even at full strength, but it's gonna take a great team to do it. I'd like to see how they stack up against some legit competition instead of the Wolves and the Knicks. I think the Bucks, Heat, Bulls, and still maybe the Nets (if they can get everyone back) can give them a run for their money.

[MotownMadness]

Wait a second. All of the "experts" told me that this wouldn't work, because Harden like to work the pick and roll, and Embiid isn't a pick and roll guy...and we KNOW that Embiid can't adjust his game to run the pick and roll...

Right?

Who said that?

90% of RealGm, Twitter, and NBA Mainstream media lol.

Never heard it on any of those, not saying you're lying but literally never seen anyone mention the pick n roll. 90% is alot though

[eyeatoma]

The Sixers are really good, but they have a big 2 with some nice role players. They're beatable even at full strength, but it's gonna take a great team to do it. I'd like to see how they stack up against some legit competition instead of the Wolves and the Knicks. I think the Bucks, Heat, Bulls, and still maybe the Nets (if they can get everyone back) can give them a run for their money.

Philly has a big 3, have you seen Maxey?

[eyeatoma]

Who said that?

90% of RealGm, Twitter, and NBA Mainstream media lol.

Never heard it on any of those, not saying you're lying but literally never seen anyone mention the pick n roll. 90% is alot though

Surprised you haven't. It's a lot man. Just watch some ESPN, or Skip Bayless. Stephen A and Skip are some of the biggest detractors of the trade saying that Harden will take touches away from Jo and that Jo won't work in the PnR.

[therealbig3]

The Sixers are really good, but they have a big 2 with some nice role players. They're beatable even at full strength, but it's gonna take a great team to do it. I'd like to see how they stack up against some legit competition instead of the Wolves and the Knicks. I think the Bucks, Heat, Bulls, and still maybe the Nets (if they can get everyone back) can give them a run for their money.

Philly has a big 3, have you seen Maxey?

Maxey and Tobias are like what Joe Harris was for the Nets last year...a great offensive role player who excels next to the superstars, but isn't that reliable once you take away the superstars, or in a playoff series when defenses tighten up and these guys are asked to do a little bit more for themselves.

We'll see, but to me, the Sixers are a two-headed monster with a strong supporting cast. Title contender for sure, but not clearly a level above the other title contenders around the league until proven otherwise (like if they start smashing everyone else and not just the bad teams, then I'm convinced).

[bebopdeluxe]

Wait a second. All of the "experts" told me that this wouldn't work, because Harden like to work the pick and roll, and Embiid isn't a pick and roll guy...and we KNOW that Embiid can't adjust his game to run the pick and roll...

Right?

Who said that?

That was a pretty widely discussed aspect of the deal, and one of the cautionary points that observers brought up - that Embiid isn't a rim-runner like a Capela. This is from Zach Kram at The Ringer after the deal:

"On offense, Harden still dominates the ball about as much as ever, leading the league once again in possession time. He is an elite isolation scorer and a prolific pick-and-roll creator—easily the best with whom Embiid has ever partnered. The 76ers big man is the league’s premiere post-up threat, but he has never set all that many screens for a center; over the past three seasons, his 32.7 picks per 100 possessions rank just 73rd out of 116 players with at least 1,000 picks, per Second Spectrum."

Here is Jarid Dubin at FiveThirtyEight:

"It’s not necessarily a perfect fit. Harden has been at his best with a rim-rolling pick-and-roll partner who provides vertical spacing so he can do damage off the drive, step into space to isolate or fling the ball to shooters dotting the perimeter. The Sixers have rarely run pick and rolls in the last half-decade, though that is at least in part because of Simmons’s deficiencies as a halfcourt ball-handler."

Kurt Helin at NBC Sports:

"Does James Harden fit well with Joel Embiid? It may not be as smooth and natural as people expect. Harden has always preferred rim-running bigs he could lob to, but who also vacated the space and let him work. Embiid is not a screen-and-roll guy. Embiid wants the ball on the block, or 15 feet out so he can face up, but that leaves Harden off the ball, where he tends to lose focus and start coasting through games."

Sam Quinn at CBS Sports:

"Morey helped Harden develop that playing style when the two were building a contender in Houston. In theory, he should fit more cleanly with Embiid than Simmons did considering his stellar shooting, but the two will need to adjust to one another on the fly. Embiid is, in some ways, the big-man version of Harden. He is primarily a post-up player, not someone who rolls to the rim as frequently as most of the big men who play with Harden."

There are a ton of others. This was a pretty broadly voiced critique of the trade - that Harden works best with rim-running bigs - not a post-up and pick-and-pop guy like Embiid.

You didn't see this? Hell, even Charles Barkley (on Inside the NBA) said that there were going to be issues, because Harden likes rim-running bigs. Of course Charles is a clown, so there 's that...