Welcome James Harden!

[HardenToSixers]

One of the things that stuck out in the Nets highlight videos was how many easy buckets he was getting Aldridge out of screening actions. I assumed Harden operated the PnR best paired with above the rim rolling bigs but Aldridge is more Embiid-like. Gives me hope that there'll be a lot of Harden-Embiid PnR flanked by 3 bombers/cutters.

Embiid will need to adapt his game a bit and I hope he commits to doing so, but to your point I think given Harden's scoring threat he will be able to get Embiid easy buckets on dump offs or just tossing one up there for Embiid to catch high and convert with a layup immediately, even though Embiid doesn't have the typical Capella/Howard type PnR oop game.

[GabeCerebro]

Long time Rockets and Harden fan here. Congratulations on getting The Beard! Hopefully he can tap into his play last year again. He is on the back end of his career sadly to say. But there is no reason he can’t consistently be a 23PPg, 7 Rebound 8-10 assist a game player ( which is still elite ) I’m not to sure how Doc is doing as a coach but if you want to maximize Harden he needs to be at no more than 32-33 MPG. He always does well with more rest at this point in his career. His injury is a big deal and he will need time to recover from this as Nash drove him into the ground with heavy minutes and usage while hurt.

Ridiculously inaccurate statements all throughout this post.

[FlyingArrow]

Long time Rockets and Harden fan here. Congratulations on getting The Beard! Hopefully he can tap into his play last year again. He is on the back end of his career sadly to say. But there is no reason he can’t consistently be a 23PPg, 7 Rebound 8-10 assist a game player ( which is still elite ) I’m not to sure how Doc is doing as a coach but if you want to maximize Harden he needs to be at no more than 32-33 MPG. He always does well with more rest at this point in his career. His injury is a big deal and he will need time to recover from this as Nash drove him into the ground with heavy minutes and usage while hurt.

Ridiculously inaccurate statements all throughout this post.

Fascinating. Do tell.

[brannigan73]

Long time Rockets and Harden fan here. Congratulations on getting The Beard! Hopefully he can tap into his play last year again. He is on the back end of his career sadly to say. But there is no reason he can’t consistently be a 23PPg, 7 Rebound 8-10 assist a game player ( which is still elite ) I’m not to sure how Doc is doing as a coach but if you want to maximize Harden he needs to be at no more than 32-33 MPG. He always does well with more rest at this point in his career. His injury is a big deal and he will need time to recover from this as Nash drove him into the ground with heavy minutes and usage while hurt.

Ridiculously inaccurate statements all throughout this post.

Fascinating. Do tell.

I wouldnt say inaccurate but they are just opinions that may or may not be true. Honestly Harden was playing at a MVP level last year before he got hurt. So of course he is at the last third of his career its just a fact but in this day and age with some guys being able to play at elite levels well into there 30's Im not convinced that Harden couldnt be a top ten player for another several years. I feel like his numbers will be closer to last years then this year so far the immediate future next 2-3 years. A motivated healthy Harden going to score more then 22 a game. James Harden is one of the greatest offensive players in the history of basketball.

[brannigan73]

Hear is a little fact for the Harden wont be elite for the Sixers crowd. Now I understand he has carried a bigger load and isnt as good a pure shooter but he also is a bigger/stronger player but James Harden is over a year younger then Stephen Curry.

[Tomjas]

Ridiculously inaccurate statements all throughout this post.

Fascinating. Do tell.

I wouldnt say inaccurate but they are just opinions that may or may not be true. Honestly Harden was playing at a MVP level last year before he got hurt. So of course he is at the last third of his career its just a fact but in this day and age with some guys being able to play at elite levels well into there 30's Im not convinced that Harden couldnt be a top ten player for another several years. I feel like his numbers will be closer to last years then this year so far the immediate future next 2-3 years. A motivated healthy Harden going to score more then 22 a game. James Harden is one of the greatest offensive players in the history of basketball.

I watch a bit of the Nets and Harden looked really good until he started mailing it in a few weeks ago

Hopefully “hamstring tightness” was simply a ploy to get traded as his game is skill based & will age well if his body holds up

[sixers4real]

Any info on when is he having a press conference?

I’m sure he’s not playing tomorrow, but I’d happily see him play soon. We have Cavs, Celtics and Bucks after tomorrow.

[rocketsfan100]

Anyone know when Harden first game will be? I’m guessing the Celtics game on Tuesday or the bulls game just before the all star break?

[sixers4real]

Anyone know when Harden first game will be? I’m guessing the Celtics game on Tuesday or the bulls game just before the all star break?

My bet would be that he debuts Tuesday against Celtics on TNT

[rocketsfan100]

Is he playing tomorrow?

Doubt it. He’s been nursing some small injuries in the past week or so ( first hammy tightness, then hand). Some conspiracists think he’s faking the injuries. But I don’t buy it.

He is fine.

[Suwanee]

Is he playing tomorrow?

Doubt it. He’s been nursing some small injuries in the past week or so ( first hammy tightness, then hand). Some conspiracists think he’s faking the injuries. But I don’t buy it.

He is fine.

You know this how? The only proof people have to justify this claim is Patty Mills' comment that "he looks fine" at the practice. But at the same time Nash also commented that "he was just there to cheer for the team". Combine the two comments, the logical explanation is Harden was at the practice but didn't join, although he "looked" fine.

But looking and walking fine does not mean you won't have trouble running full speed during the game. His hammy has been bothering him for a while. And that POS Nash kept running him into the ground to save his ass.

Maybe he's truly faking the injury to force a trade. But I'm gonna assume innocence until I see actual proof to say otherwise.

[SixthStreet]

Personally I think we should just give him a rest until after the all star break but the teams not going to do that.

[MrDollarBills]

Nets fan here. Unlike some other members of our fanbase, I have no ill will towards Harden and I understood his frustration with the situation. Nash was running him into the ground with a roster with no spacing for him to work with while Kyrie was at home sitting on his ass. I don't blame him one bit for wanting out, and I wish him the best of luck in trying to win a ring.

The real issue is this: He definitely is banged up, and he's not in the shape that he was back when he was carrying Houston a few years ago. He's still a great player, but it is clear that his game is on a bit of a decline this season and the way refs officiate him hasn't helped, as he gets hammered pretty much on every drive and they swallow the whistle. I think if Doc can reduce his minutes to help him stay healthy, he will be fantastic for you guys, as you guys are in way better health and Embiid imo is #1 in the MVP race. It will be interesting to see how their games mesh.

Something to watch for: This season, Harden has been really slow getting the ball up the court and getting the team into sets. He absolutely killed our pacing. I'm not sure what kind of offense you guys run but that may be an issue if Harden doesn't adapt, because I doubt you guys want your offensive sets to start with 14 secs or less on the clock.

[stormi]

Personally I think we should just give him a rest until after the all star break but the teams not going to do that.

Agree. Really let him acclimate and get up to speed.

[Ksny13]

Long time Rockets and Harden fan here. Congratulations on getting The Beard! Hopefully he can tap into his play last year again. He is on the back end of his career sadly to say. But there is no reason he can’t consistently be a 23PPg, 7 Rebound 8-10 assist a game player ( which is still elite ) I’m not to sure how Doc is doing as a coach but if you want to maximize Harden he needs to be at no more than 32-33 MPG. He always does well with more rest at this point in his career. His injury is a big deal and he will need time to recover from this as Nash drove him into the ground with heavy minutes and usage while hurt.

Ridiculously inaccurate statements all throughout this post.

Care to elaborate?

[76ciology]

Read on Twitter

Yeah but have u seen how bad inflation is?

But seriously, i think Harden can play really good even when he’s 37-38.

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

One of the things that stuck out in the Nets highlight videos was how many easy buckets he was getting Aldridge out of screening actions. I assumed Harden operated the PnR best paired with above the rim rolling bigs but Aldridge is more Embiid-like. Gives me hope that there'll be a lot of Harden-Embiid PnR flanked by 3 bombers/cutters.

Embiid will need to adapt his game a bit and I hope he commits to doing so, but to your point I think given Harden's scoring threat he will be able to get Embiid easy buckets on dump offs or just tossing one up there for Embiid to catch high and convert with a layup immediately, even though Embiid doesn't have the typical Capella/Howard type PnR oop game.

You mention this and I was actually wondering about it as well. I'm certain that this is Embiids team still. Harden is here though and you can't take away his greatness either so I do think there will be an adjustment period. Embiid is used to just having to do it all every night and he wont have to now. I just wonder if it's Harden that is going to have to adapt to Embiid and not the other way around. Like I said, it'll take them probably the rest of this season to get used to each other. I think we can safely say that this will be a bit of a change for Maxey too. I definitely think it's going to be hard to gel at first, but we're going to eventually get it assuming our main guys stay healthy.

[Embiid-MVP]

Read on Twitter

Yeah but have u seen how bad inflation is?

But seriously, i think Harden can play really good even when he’s 37-38.

There's gonna a big difference between people's thoughts on the age thing. I also believe he can be a fine player at 36-38 but I can see why there's tons scared to give the contract.

We got our second guy finally , just gotta pony up and forget about the age thing. We could still have Ben lol and be miserable

[ExplosionsInDaSky]

Read on Twitter

Yeah but have u seen how bad inflation is?

But seriously, i think Harden can play really good even when he’s 37-38.

As talented and amazing as Westbrook and John Wall have been over the years, neither one of them are on Hardens level. Both of them have relied on amazing athleticism throughout their careers. They're athletes first and basketball players second. With Harden, it's the other way around. He's 100% a basketball player the same way Tyson Fury is 100% boxer.

[Arsenal]

Read on Twitter

Yeah but have u seen how bad inflation is?

But seriously, i think Harden can play really good even when he’s 37-38.

Harden is a great shooter who has a skill-based game.

Wall and Westbrook are not good shooters, and have athleticism-based games.

Harden is a good bet to have much better longevity than those guys.