Joel Embiid (MVP, Scoring Title)& James Harden(Ast Leader) 22-23 Thread, any last thoughts on these two?

TroubleS0me · Post #21 » by **TroubleS0me** » Wed May 3, 2023 1:33 am

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TroubleS0me · Post #22 » by **TroubleS0me** » Wed May 3, 2023 9:28 pm

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MartinToVaught · Post #23 » by **MartinToVaught** » Thu May 4, 2023 12:52 pm

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TroubleS0me · Post #24 » by **TroubleS0me** » Thu May 4, 2023 5:36 pm

MartinToVaught wrote:

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yea goats dont do that

TroubleS0me · Post #25 » by **TroubleS0me** » Thu May 11, 2023 3:54 am

bump Harden should have been 2nd all nba

TheLand13 · Post #26 » by **TheLand13** » Thu May 11, 2023 10:22 am

I have been a vocal James Harden hater for a very long time now.

But I have to admit that he has been really great in this role with the 76ers and has really stepped up as a player. Maybe he does deserve more recognition for what he’s been able to do. I don’t know. But it truly feels like he’s found his calling with this team. He stepped up in Embiids absence and has been a key reason for the 76ers being on the verge of going to the conference finals. It pains me to say it too, but I have to recognize greatness when I see it.

O_6 · Post #27 » by **O_6** » Thu May 11, 2023 6:16 pm

Harden has won 10 playoff series post-OKC...

2015 DAL (50 wins + 3.36 SRS)
2015 LAC (56 wins + 6.80 SRS)
2017 OKC (47 wins + 1.14 SRS)
2018 MIN (47 wins + 2.35 SRS)
2018 UTA (48 wins + 4.47 SRS)
2019 UTA (50 wins + 5.28 SRS)
2020 OKC (50* wins + 2.33 SRS)
2021 BOS (41* wins + 1.31 SRS)
2022 TOR (48 wins + 2.38 SRS)
2023 BRK (45 wins + 1.03 SRS)

By far the most impressive series win in that set is the 2015 series against the Clippers. But Harden kind of struggled in that series and the most memorable moment came when the Rockets benched Harden and Corey Brewer/Josh Smith went crazy in Game 6. But besides that series, what's the best team that he's taken down since becoming a superstar in Houston? His 2 series wins against the Utah Jazz? No offense to the Jazz who were a solid regular season team those years, but they weren't exactly a scary team in those years.

The most memorable series win where Harden played great was all the way back in 2012 with the Thunder where he just roasted the Spurs. But he was a 6th man playing limited minutes, he still only averaged 19/6/4 in that series so it's not like he lit the world on fire.

Embiid's turn, take a look at all the teams he has beat in his playoff career so far...

2018 MIA (44 wins + 0.15 SRS)
2019 BRK (42 wins + -0.40 SRS)
2021 WAS (39* wins + -1.84 SRS)
2022 TOR (48 wins + 2.38 SRS)
2023 BRK (45 wins + 1.03 SRS)

Very shallow list of teams right there. The best team by far that Embiid beat in the playoffs was the Raptors from last year. But they weren't even close to contender. Nice series win, but that's your best playoff series win?

2023 BOS (57 wins + 6.38 SRS)

The Sixers are up 3-2 with a chance to end it in Philly tonight. Winning against this Boston team would be BY FAR the biggest series win of Embiid's career. With Harden, you could argue that the 2015 Clippers were better. But the fact that those Clippers were perennial chokers and the Celtics actually went to the Finals last year might give this Boston team the edge. Plus Harden had a forgettable series vs. the Clippers in 2015, this series vs. Boston has been a memorable roller-coaster ride for Harden.

Game 6. This is a moment that will really shape the way people view Embiid and Harden moving forward. For Harden, it's a chance to add a much needed "legacy" series to the resume. For Embiid, it's a chance to shed the regular season player label and really cement himself as a Top 3 or whatever player in the league. Should be a crazy atmosphere.

TroubleS0me · Post #28 » by **TroubleS0me** » Fri May 12, 2023 3:08 am

O_6 wrote:Harden has won 10 playoff series post-OKC...

2015 DAL (50 wins + 3.36 SRS)
2015 LAC (56 wins + 6.80 SRS)
2017 OKC (47 wins + 1.14 SRS)
2018 MIN (47 wins + 2.35 SRS)
2018 UTA (48 wins + 4.47 SRS)
2019 UTA (50 wins + 5.28 SRS)
2020 OKC (50* wins + 2.33 SRS)
2021 BOS (41* wins + 1.31 SRS)
2022 TOR (48 wins + 2.38 SRS)
2023 BRK (45 wins + 1.03 SRS)

By far the most impressive series win in that set is the 2015 series against the Clippers. But Harden kind of struggled in that series and the most memorable moment came when the Rockets benched Harden and Corey Brewer/Josh Smith went crazy in Game 6. But besides that series, what's the best team that he's taken down since becoming a superstar in Houston? His 2 series wins against the Utah Jazz? No offense to the Jazz who were a solid regular season team those years, but they weren't exactly a scary team in those years.

The most memorable series win where Harden played great was all the way back in 2012 with the Thunder where he just roasted the Spurs. But he was a 6th man playing limited minutes, he still only averaged 19/6/4 in that series so it's not like he lit the world on fire.

Embiid's turn, take a look at all the teams he has beat in his playoff career so far...

2018 MIA (44 wins + 0.15 SRS)
2019 BRK (42 wins + -0.40 SRS)
2021 WAS (39* wins + -1.84 SRS)
2022 TOR (48 wins + 2.38 SRS)
2023 BRK (45 wins + 1.03 SRS)

Very shallow list of teams right there. The best team by far that Embiid beat in the playoffs was the Raptors from last year. But they weren't even close to contender. Nice series win, but that's your best playoff series win?

2023 BOS (57 wins + 6.38 SRS)

The Sixers are up 3-2 with a chance to end it in Philly tonight. Winning against this Boston team would be BY FAR the biggest series win of Embiid's career. With Harden, you could argue that the 2015 Clippers were better. But the fact that those Clippers were perennial chokers and the Celtics actually went to the Finals last year might give this Boston team the edge. Plus Harden had a forgettable series vs. the Clippers in 2015, this series vs. Boston has been a memorable roller-coaster ride for Harden.

Game 6. This is a moment that will really shape the way people view Embiid and Harden moving forward. For Harden, it's a chance to add a much needed "legacy" series to the resume. For Embiid, it's a chance to shed the regular season player label and really cement himself as a Top 3 or whatever player in the league. Should be a crazy atmosphere.

Welp, we gotta game 7. We will see about legacy..

TroubleS0me · Post #29 » by **TroubleS0me** » Sun May 14, 2023 10:11 pm

TheLand13 wrote:I have been a vocal James Harden hater for a very long time now.

But I have to admit that he has been really great in this role with the 76ers and has really stepped up as a player. Maybe he does deserve more recognition for what he’s been able to do. I don’t know. But it truly feels like he’s found his calling with this team. He stepped up in Embiids absence and has been a key reason for the 76ers being on the verge of going to the conference finals. It pains me to say it too, but I have to recognize greatness when I see it.

It's okay continue to hate lol, he's still not there

TroubleS0me · Post #30 » by **TroubleS0me** » Sun May 14, 2023 10:12 pm

bump another year of missing ECF for Joel Embiid

TheLand13 · Post #31 » by **TheLand13** » Sun May 14, 2023 10:23 pm

TroubleS0me wrote:
TheLand13 wrote:I have been a vocal James Harden hater for a very long time now.

But I have to admit that he has been really great in this role with the 76ers and has really stepped up as a player. Maybe he does deserve more recognition for what he’s been able to do. I don’t know. But it truly feels like he’s found his calling with this team. He stepped up in Embiids absence and has been a key reason for the 76ers being on the verge of going to the conference finals. It pains me to say it too, but I have to recognize greatness when I see it.

It's okay continue to hate lol, he's still not there

Yeah this aged poorly. After a great start to the series, Harden went back to his roots and choked this one away.

McBubbles · Post #32 » by **McBubbles** » Sun May 14, 2023 10:44 pm

TheLand13 wrote:
TroubleS0me wrote:
TheLand13 wrote:I have been a vocal James Harden hater for a very long time now.

But I have to admit that he has been really great in this role with the 76ers and has really stepped up as a player. Maybe he does deserve more recognition for what he’s been able to do. I don’t know. But it truly feels like he’s found his calling with this team. He stepped up in Embiids absence and has been a key reason for the 76ers being on the verge of going to the conference finals. It pains me to say it too, but I have to recognize greatness when I see it.

It's okay continue to hate lol, he's still not there

Yeah this aged poorly. After a great start to the series, Harden went back to his roots and choked this one away.

Two 40 point games.
Four sub 20 point games.
And one 9 point game to cap things off. **** hell. Does he not get tired of this?

kayess · Post #33 » by **kayess** » Mon May 15, 2023 1:56 am

I never wanna hear Jokic slander from Embiid fans again. But maybe that's a reddit thing

Bergmaniac · Post #34 » by **Bergmaniac** » Mon May 15, 2023 2:03 am

kayess wrote:I never wanna hear Jokic slander from Embiid fans again. But maybe that's a reddit thing

You obviously don't read the General Board, because the Jokic slander from the Embiid fanboys has been one of the main activities there for years.

kayess · Post #35 » by **kayess** » Mon May 15, 2023 2:06 am

Bergmaniac wrote:
kayess wrote:I never wanna hear Jokic slander from Embiid fans again. But maybe that's a reddit thing
You obviously don't read the General Board, because the Jokic slander from the Embiid fanboys has been one of the main activities there for years.

Yes, I don't. LMAO I guess it's just toxic Philly fans being toxic Philly fans

ShotCreator · Post #36 » by **ShotCreator** » Mon May 15, 2023 3:33 pm

Harden was obviously post-prime but seeing him lose to a scheme that dared him to finish AT the rim with only a late help defender off a shooter of Tucker's caliber there to recover on his drives....is just sad to see.

I would've rather not have seen it.

jalengreen · Post #37 » by **jalengreen** » Mon May 15, 2023 8:42 pm

kayess wrote:I never wanna hear Jokic slander from Embiid fans again. But maybe that's a reddit thing

It was so bad on r/nba this season lol. Ridiculous.

TroubleS0me · Post #38 » by **TroubleS0me** » Tue May 16, 2023 5:05 am

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TroubleS0me · Post #39 » by **TroubleS0me** » Thu May 18, 2023 5:01 am

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TroubleS0me · Post #40 » by **TroubleS0me** » Wed Jun 14, 2023 3:01 am

“It was challenging, more because we were fighting two things—and not like visually fighting—it was James is so good at playing one way, and the way I believe you have to play to win, in some ways, is different,” Rivers said, per Bleacher Report. “Because it’s a lot of giving up the ball, moving the ball, coming back to the ball. I would have loved to have him younger, when that was easier for him because giving up the ball and getting back the ball is hard. It’s physical, it’s exhausting.”

Rivers went on to break the year down into the first and second half, and said that Harden’s play was the biggest differentiator in Philly’s success during the former and struggles during the latter.

“So, yeah, at times, to get him to move it and get him to play the way I needed him to play — I thought the first half of the year, we were the best team in the game,” Rivers said. “I thought James was playing perfect basketball. He was the point guard of the team. He was still scoring, but he was doing more playmaking and scoring. Then in the second half, he started scoring more, trying to score more, and I thought we got stagnant at times. I thought we changed.”