Welcome James Harden!

[Kobblehead]

Random hypothetical:

If Morey could’ve done Simmons/Maxey for Mitchell do you think he’d choose it over the actual Harden deal?

Hard to say. Morey is very attached to Harden.

Mitchell is the better asset, given age and all, of course.

[76ciology]

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[Ferry Avenue]

This is precisely what Harden’s presence hinges on:

https://sixerswire.usatoday.com/lists/multiple-sixers-impressed-with-james-harden-as-a-leader-teammate/

[sixers4real]

Harden debut is in less then 107 hours.

[FireMorey]

Morey confirmed it on Twitter basically that it's Friday.

It's going to be the first truly ball dominant guy Embiid has ever played with, one of the most ball dominant guys in NBA history. That said, whatever adjustment needs to be made there IMO will be made up in the fact that Embiid will get far fewer double teams.

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[76ciology]

How will Harden and Embiid mesh?

How did Durant and Harden mesh?

Durant’s scoring numbers are similar to embiid. Both guys are taking 20 shots a game.

Harden been taking 16 shots a game with the Nets.

So expect Harden to play like how he plays with the Nets, when he plays with Embiid. That means deferring to Embiid when both are on the court. Then if Embiid is on the bench, expect Harden to run a lot of 1v1 or 2v2.

[Ferry Avenue]

How will Harden and Embiid mesh?

How did Durant and Harden mesh?

Durant’s scoring numbers are similar to embiid. Both guys are taking 20 shots a game.

Harden been taking 16 shots a game with the Nets.

So expect Harden to play like how he plays with the Nets, when he plays with Embiid. That means deferring to Embiid when both are on the court. Then if Embiid is on the bench, expect Harden to run a lot of 1v1 or 2v2.

What's critical to have out of both guys in my opinion is the flexibility to be selfish or selfless, depending on what the team needs from them on any given night, as a function of how opposing teams choose to defend them.

If those two superstar players can exhibit that kind of leadership then the other players will follow suit and the team will establish the kind of winning culture that can distinguish it from the other best teams in the league that have similar levels of physical talent. When you're roughly equal in talent, it's your culture that has to win.

Let's just be glad at this point that Harden's behavior with his teammates so far is consistent with that kind of leadership. They need to be able to trust that he's invested in the Sixers and not just viewing them as a temporary stop along the way for him.

[mjkvol]

Morey confirmed it on Twitter basically that it's Friday.

I hope so. Give him a few more days and start at MSG with the Knicks home and home.

[sixers4real]

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[Kobblehead]

Jim already proving himself to be box office. Josh Harris like that, for sure.

[FireMorey]

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[eyeatoma]

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This man's weight and body type is truly one of the world's unsolvable mysteries. Dude literally looks he is anorexic in the 2nd picture, and looks borderline obese in the first one.

[76ciology]

What makes the Harden deal a genius is how the crime was done without any evidence.

I do think Morey has this on paper for a long time already and all the moves leading to the trade was just a cover up for a potential intervention by the league.

It was 4D chess. Only a very smart vet GM can pull it off.

[Prokorov]

I don't think Harden/Embiid should be a big concern. Harden said day 1 on the Nets he didnt like having such a huge scoring burden on him in Houston, and then kind of proved it embracing a PG role and taking a back seat to Kyrie as a scorer. In fact he only really seemed unhappy here once KD/Kyrie were out and he had that big load to carry again. It worked out great for both of them year 1... So Harden im sure is fine taking less shots then Joel. Their games may not mesh but neither did Harden/KD but they are both so great and efficient it didnt matter... it was ugly offense, but it was 125 points per 100 possesions ugly i.e. the best offense in league history.

So maybe its alot of alternating who attacks and not some seamless warriors/spurs ball, but it will still likely be great offense, even if the fit stinks, which it probably wont.

The only real short term concern I see with Harden is the hamstring. Most nets fans said it was BS and he just wanted out, but it seems clear now he tweaked something. earlier in the year people just said he lost a step but it clearly the hamstring was bothering him. he reaggravated it 3 times last year, again in the playoffs, and according to injury reports twice this year.

His biggest issue this year wasnt the refs... it was lack of explosiveness on his jumper and at the rim. if he is healthy, i expect him to look like last year.

[bargara]

There’s no secret about Harden’s weight

He doesn’t train in the off season & plays his way to fitness

He faked an injury in Brooklyn before demanding a trade & has been training ever since

Hardly a mystery

He will be good to go tomorrow

[76ciology]

Watched some recent Nets-Wolves game
- he plays a lot of SF, i dont know if its because he is struggling or Nets need more shooting because of non shooting 4&5s
- Nets run a lot of small guys at PF like Edwards, Brown or James Johnson.
- Harden can score if he wants to but he plays more of a facilitator with the Nets. But I just find it that he seems out of rhythm when he has to shift to being a scorer.

[eyeatoma]

I don't think Harden/Embiid should be a big concern. Harden said day 1 on the Nets he didnt like having such a huge scoring burden on him in Houston, and then kind of proved it embracing a PG role and taking a back seat to Kyrie as a scorer. In fact he only really seemed unhappy here once KD/Kyrie were out and he had that big load to carry again. It worked out great for both of them year 1... So Harden im sure is fine taking less shots then Joel. Their games may not mesh but neither did Harden/KD but they are both so great and efficient it didnt matter... it was ugly offense, but it was 125 points per 100 possesions ugly i.e. the best offense in league history.

So maybe its alot of alternating who attacks and not some seamless warriors/spurs ball, but it will still likely be great offense, even if the fit stinks, which it probably wont.

The only real short term concern I see with Harden is the hamstring. Most nets fans said it was BS and he just wanted out, but it seems clear now he tweaked something. earlier in the year people just said he lost a step but it clearly the hamstring was bothering him. he reaggravated it 3 times last year, again in the playoffs, and according to injury reports twice this year.

His biggest issue this year wasnt the refs... it was lack of explosiveness on his jumper and at the rim. if he is healthy, i expect him to look like last year.

Was it all the same hamstring? I heard the most reason one was to the other leg.

[MrDollarBills]

I don't think Harden/Embiid should be a big concern. Harden said day 1 on the Nets he didnt like having such a huge scoring burden on him in Houston, and then kind of proved it embracing a PG role and taking a back seat to Kyrie as a scorer. In fact he only really seemed unhappy here once KD/Kyrie were out and he had that big load to carry again. It worked out great for both of them year 1... So Harden im sure is fine taking less shots then Joel. Their games may not mesh but neither did Harden/KD but they are both so great and efficient it didnt matter... it was ugly offense, but it was 125 points per 100 possesions ugly i.e. the best offense in league history.

So maybe its alot of alternating who attacks and not some seamless warriors/spurs ball, but it will still likely be great offense, even if the fit stinks, which it probably wont.

The only real short term concern I see with Harden is the hamstring. Most nets fans said it was BS and he just wanted out, but it seems clear now he tweaked something. earlier in the year people just said he lost a step but it clearly the hamstring was bothering him. he reaggravated it 3 times last year, again in the playoffs, and according to injury reports twice this year.

His biggest issue this year wasnt the refs... it was lack of explosiveness on his jumper and at the rim. if he is healthy, i expect him to look like last year.

Was it all the same hamstring? I heard the most reason one was to the other leg.

I think it was his left hamstring, which was the same one as last year if i recall.

[Sixerscan]

I don't think Harden/Embiid should be a big concern. Harden said day 1 on the Nets he didnt like having such a huge scoring burden on him in Houston, and then kind of proved it embracing a PG role and taking a back seat to Kyrie as a scorer. In fact he only really seemed unhappy here once KD/Kyrie were out and he had that big load to carry again. It worked out great for both of them year 1... So Harden im sure is fine taking less shots then Joel. Their games may not mesh but neither did Harden/KD but they are both so great and efficient it didnt matter... it was ugly offense, but it was 125 points per 100 possesions ugly i.e. the best offense in league history.

So maybe its alot of alternating who attacks and not some seamless warriors/spurs ball, but it will still likely be great offense, even if the fit stinks, which it probably wont.

The only real short term concern I see with Harden is the hamstring. Most nets fans said it was BS and he just wanted out, but it seems clear now he tweaked something. earlier in the year people just said he lost a step but it clearly the hamstring was bothering him. he reaggravated it 3 times last year, again in the playoffs, and according to injury reports twice this year.

His biggest issue this year wasnt the refs... it was lack of explosiveness on his jumper and at the rim. if he is healthy, i expect him to look like last year.

Was it all the same hamstring? I heard the most reason one was to the other leg.

I think it was his left hamstring, which was the same one as last year if i recall.

Nope last year was the right hamstring

[Sixersftw]

Now the hammy's are balanced, as all things should be.