Prokorov wrote: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.
This won't be a popular take here, but I would be just fine if Harden didn't suit up until the next home game, which is Wednesday against the Knicks. I want him back when he's as close to 100% as he can be, because coming back tomorrow and tweaking the hammy further would be the worst case scenario.
"Most people do not really want freedom, because freedom involves responsibility, and most people are frightened of responsibility." - Sigmund Freud