Embiid & Harden = Shaq & Kobe 2.0

[UnFadeable21]

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Embiid 7ft - 285lbs
Shaq 7ft 1 - 330lbs

Harden 6’5ft - 220lbs
Kobe 6’6ft - 215lbs


I was at the Target Center last Friday and watched my red hot Timberwolves play Vs the new Sixers. Damn! Joel and
James were unstoppable. Joel just bullied KAT all over the floor and James could get to any spot on the floor whenever he wanted too.

I think you guys have a legit championship duo that can win the title this year.

[76ciology]

Hybrid of Steve Nash and Amare with Shaq and Kobe

*less dunks more FTs

[DHM]

Harden is a better passer than Kobe and Joel is a lot more skilled offensively.

[UnFadeable21]

Hybrid of Steve Nash and Amare with Shaq and Kobe

*less dunks more FTs

In person, Joel was legit 2 inches bigger than KAT and his shoulders were just so much thicker and stronger.

He’s the best most dominant big since Shaq. Jokic may be more versatile but Embiid is just a monster on the court.

He has my MVP vote this year because he carried your squad all season and has been healthy.

But James is playing like prime Houston James. He can get to anywhere on the court and now he can throw it to Embiid anytime he needs to as well. I don’t know how any time can stop the Sixers.

Only thing you guys are missing is a 6th man microwave scorer. Shake isn’t proven yet for that role.

[Ferry Avenue]

Only thing you guys are missing is a 6th man microwave scorer. Shake isn’t proven yet for that role.

First, you likened Harden and Embiid to Shaq and Kobe while specifying the team needs a 6th man microwave scorer. Note however that the Lakers' championship team with Shaq and Kobe had no such 6th man microwave scorer. The next-highest scorer on that team was Derek Fisher at a mere 11.5 points per game, and he was a starter.

It isn't etched in any kind of important stone anywhere that a 6th man scoring entity is essential for NBA championships.

That said, if the team moves in the direction of developing one, it should be Harris, with Niang starting.

Niang as a starter would play no differently than Harris has during Harden's games (low-volume shooting, mainly from beyond the arc), while Harris would be freed up to play more of his traditional game as a sixth man with Embiid off the court, and would be of more benefit to the team with his scoring in that role.

If you get Niang as a starter to simply play like Harris has with Harden, and you get Harris as a 6th man to elevate his game so that it approaches something more similar to what it's been traditionally, then obviously you've benefited the team.

[Stanford]

I love the combination of an elite guard and elite center. It defines the history of basketball in my opinion.

[Arsenal]

Like Big Perk, I think Magic & Kareem is a better comparison.

Harden is now a next-level playmaker, much moreso than Kobe ever was.

And it looks like we're getting both in their prime, unlike the Showtime Lakers where Kareem was well past his as Magic ascended.

[UnFadeable21]

Like Big Perk, I think Magic & Kareem is a better comparison.

Harden is now a next-level playmaker, much moreso than Kobe ever was.

And it looks like we're getting both in their prime, unlike the Showtime Lakers where Kareem was well past his as Magic ascended.

I compared to Kobe and Shaq because both guys can drop 30 in a night together.

Magic was more a 20-10-10 guy then a 30 ppg guy.

It’s really quite amazing the chemistry Joel and James have had so Quickly

[Arsenal]

Like Big Perk, I think Magic & Kareem is a better comparison.

Harden is now a next-level playmaker, much moreso than Kobe ever was.

And it looks like we're getting both in their prime, unlike the Showtime Lakers where Kareem was well past his as Magic ascended.

I compared to Kobe and Shaq because both guys can drop 30 in a night together.

Magic was more a 20-10-10 guy then a 30 ppg guy.

It’s really quite amazing the chemistry Joel and James have had so Quickly

Prime Magic at age 27 in 86-87 scored 24 ppg along w/12 apg. Kobe OTOH never averaged over 6 apg.

I believe Harden wants to play like Magic going forward. He still *can* score 30ppg, but he won't have to anymore.

[Mik317]

relaaaaaax

same was said about the Ben/Biid pairing as well.

lets not get ahead of ourselves off of two , great mind you, games against mid to bad competition.

[Damienfan]

Like Big Perk, I think Magic & Kareem is a better comparison.

Harden is now a next-level playmaker, much moreso than Kobe ever was.

And it looks like we're getting both in their prime, unlike the Showtime Lakers where Kareem was well past his as Magic ascended.

I compared to Kobe and Shaq because both guys can drop 30 in a night together.

Magic was more a 20-10-10 guy then a 30 ppg guy.

It’s really quite amazing the chemistry Joel and James have had so Quickly

Thanks! Appreciate the up close take.

[UnFadeable21]

relaaaaaax

same was said about the Ben/Biid pairing as well.

lets not get ahead of ourselves off of two , great mind you, games against mid to bad competition.

Ben all round great but he isn’t a scoring champ or MVP like James Harden is.

Embiid will win the MVP this year.

How many teams can claim they have two prime MVP’s on their team?

[stormi]

They're both better than their predecessor counterparts. Harden specifically is on another planet from Kobe.

[Jailblazers7]

I hate the comp because it feels like blasphemy lol. But the big thing in our favor is that Embiid/Harden are both either close to or in their prime. Young Kobe was great but not even close to his final form.

[eyeatoma]

Hybrid of Steve Nash and Amare with Shaq and Kobe

*less dunks more FTs

Eh, I know you said Hybrid but Embiid is far better than Amare ever was. Amare was an elite finisher, that's it. The ultimate pick and roll player.

[eyeatoma]

relaaaaaax

same was said about the Ben/Biid pairing as well.

lets not get ahead of ourselves off of two , great mind you, games against mid to bad competition.

Embiid in his first few years of the league has nothing on this version of Embiid. People saying Ben and Embiid were Shaq and Kobe were talking out of their asses.

It's a little bit of hyperbole, but it's not far off.

You have kind of been sour milk since the trade lol. I know you've experienced a lot of pain, I have as well haha, but it's time to jump on the bandwagon.

[Skates]

Let’s just go with Joel and James 1.0

[phillynative]

lol

[Ferry Avenue]

I think the comparison is apt in terms of the structure of the teams these players were on and the contributions they're expecting from them and the players around them. If Maxey can continue to score 20+ points per game however, with Harden and Embiid continuing to do what they've done, that'll distinguish this Sixers team from those Lakers teams. Those Lakers teams didn't have a third prong who could be relied upon in that way.

However, while Harden and Embiid could certainly propel this team to a championship, I don't believe they're quite as dominant as Shaq and Kobe. Kobe was a Jordan-like player who could play extremely well at all three levels, elevate into the rafters, and be counted on to hit game-winning shots in highly important games. Quite possibly a top-three player of all time. Harden is certainly a first-ballot hall of famer but not quite of that echelon in my opinion. You're not going to stick the ball in his hands with time winding down of game seven and have him elevate over his defender for a midrange jumper that wins the game in Jordan-like fashion. You're going to want the ball in his hands in that situation, certainly, but you're not going to expect that kind of individual athletic dominance from him.

The same holds true for the Shaq and Embiid comparison in my opinion, where the ball could be dumped down to Shaq for an almost guaranteed bucket, as he used his massive frame to simply bully whoever was guarding him. Embiid has a more graceful, Olajuwon-like game, and he certainly offers more value than Shaq with regard to free throw shooting, but the dominance down low isn't quite at the same level in my opinion. You can't stop an opposing team's run by dumping the ball down to Embiid for an almost guaranteed bucket a la Shaq.

So what you have are two players, Harden and Embiid, who aren't quite as dominant as Kobe and Shaq in my opinion. Again they can certainly win a championship, however, as naturally teams don't have to be identical to or better than the 2001 Lakers to win a championship.

[Stanford]

same was said about the Ben/Biid pairing as well.

Maybe theoretically. No one ever watched Ben and Embiid and said "now there's a historic NBA duo" though