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Tim BontempsESPN
Shortly thereafter James HardenThis was introduced as the newest memberThe Philadelphia 76ersThe question that the NBA’s superstar guard was asked after the massive trade deadline swap with the Brooklyn NetsFor Ben Simmons:
How can you? ThisPartner with Joel Embiid work?
Harden stated that “I believe we complement each other,” during his February 15 news conference. “Obviously, everyone knows how amazing Joel has been playing.”
Embiid was again asked the question a few hours later.
“If you look at the Golden State, you can see the winning teams in the past. [Warriors]Teams, even the [Los Angeles]Milwaukee and the Lakers [Bucks]”They just moved the ball last year,” he stated.
“[Harden is]Probably up there with the best pick-and-roll playmakers, so you have to add that to our offense.”
Friday night’s first glimpse of the Harden/Embiid dynamic is when the 76ers travel to face the Minnesota Timberwolves. It will be the start of a 24-game sprint for the Eastern Conference 76ers’ regular-season finish. The new All-Star duo of the 76ers, third in their conference, must make quick decisions to help Philadelphia (35-23) win its first NBA title since 1983.
We asked league executives, scouts, and coaches to share their thoughts on how Philly’s experiment could turn out.
The pull and push between Harden & Embiid
The partnership must work between the 2018 MVP und the front-runner for this season’s awardBoth of them will have to change their usual styles and stop being the center for their team’s universes.
“I need to be more pick-and roll player or pick-and pop to help my teammates and him,” Embiid stated last week.[Harden is]More of an off the-dribble 3-point shooter but I get doubled quite a bit. You must be able fire up 3s from the catch to be able against double teams.
Only 12 of Harden’s 102 3-pointers this year have come from catch-and shoot situations, according to Second Spectrum tracking and NBA Advanced Stats.
That push and pull will be difficult to balance, and the matter of which star will lead the way — from possession-to-possession, let alone game-to-game — will be closely monitored.
A Western Conference executive stated that they are not adding a role-player for the playoffs. “They are adding a guy that’s likely to be their most used player.”
Embiid has been the heart of everything the 76ers did this season. He currently leads the NBA’s usage rate for the second consecutive season and is currently in the middle of what could be the best year of his career.
Embiid, however, has never played with Harden as a ball-dominant player. Several people who were asked about the partnership confirmed that Harden was Embiid’s first partner. EmbiidThe biggest adjustment he must make is for one simple reason: He doesn’t usually start with the ball in hand.
An Eastern Conference executive stated that Joel’s adjustment in his offensive role is the single most important thing. It’s more than gonna be, “Go set ball screens,” because it won’t. It won’t be the same as it was before the break.
“His reaction will determine how he responds. He can be a great leader if he keeps his cool.
The Beard and. The Process. pic.twitter.com/wHeMsTZvrK
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) February 25, 2022
Harden, however, has demonstrated — even during his two-season, eighty-game run with Nets — that he’s not always as energetic when the ball isn’t in his hands. As with Embiid’s adaptation to Harden holding the ball, there was much discussion about Harden’s willingness and ability to change his play.
“Who will the players play through?” A Western Conference assistant coach stated. Joel and James pick-and-roll. Will they just follow Joel into the post? When it was Chris [Paul]James [with the Houston Rockets]James would simply stand there if he didn’t have the ball.
Harden and Harden are the point guard partners Tyrese Maxey
Maxey, a second-year Philadelphia point guard, has been a revelation as he filled in for Simmons. He is now playing alongside Harden.
Maxey said that it was a difficult adjustment. “He is going from playing primarily alongside Joel and floor spacesrs to becoming one.”
Maxey shot 30% from 3-point range last year, and now he’s up to 39% with 3.6 attempts per match. However, he is yet to show that he is a consistent spot up shooter. Seth CurryMaxey’s replacement at shooting guard is Maxey, who is a 43.8% 3-point shooter in his career and has been Philadelphia’s best player for the past season. Second Spectrum data shows that Maxey has shot 38.5% from catch-and shoot 3s, while Curry managed 46%.
Before trading Curry, shooting was an issue. Philadelphia is the 29th most successful city in 3-pointers.
When asked by an Eastern Conference scout if the 76ers had enough shooting, he replied that they don’t. Perhaps if they’re skilled enough, they’ll overcome it. The blueprint for great teams is to surround them with shooting.
Coach Doc Rivers stated that Philadelphia needs another guard. The 76ers have struggled to win when Maxey isn’t there. Maxey’s 8.9 net rating has been the best for the team over the last 15 games.
Harden and Maxey should always be available, so Maxey has plenty of opportunities to play on the ball.
“[Maxey is]”He’s been a better player than he thought he would be, and he has been a nice downhill play for him,” said the Eastern Conference executive. He should be doing it for the second unit, even though there shouldn’t be one when Joel or James aren’t there.
Can the 76ers defend well enough?
Even if Harden seems to have lost one step in the last year due to hamstring injuries, everyone agrees that he will be an asset to Philadelphia’s offense.
While Harden won’t replace Curry’s defensive juggernaut, there are legitimate questions that the 76ers must answer about how they will guard elite offenses.
Rivers replied, “Oh, yeah,” after Jaylen BrownAnd Jayson Tatum combined for 57 pointsIn the Boston CelticsWhen asked about the problem of slowing down big-wing scorers, he replied that he won last week.
“No doubt. No doubt. No doubt. [do it]We need to be better than tonight in many areas.
Rivers stated Maxey would start alongside Harden. However, there’s no clear answer to the question if Maxey decides to move in a different direction. Any of the available options — Matisse Thybulle, Danny GreenAnd Furkan KorkmazThey all have their flaws.
“Seth has gone, but you still have Tyrese and Harden. Harden is at his best when he switches and that’s not. [assistant coach and defensive coordinator Dan Burke’s]style, and Joel will generally be in the paint,” West assistant stated.
Harden has participated in 42% of the on-ball screens this season. This is more than any NBA player. team. Philadelphia, however, has switched to 13% which is the league’s lowest rate.
“The solution is then [the 76ers]”I have to play Matisse, but having faith in Matisse offensively at this point seems shaky,” said the assistant. He’s a net-negative on offense if you have to play him. Or, you can play Tyrese. He’s a net-negative on defense.
Friday night will see the beginning of this grand experiment, so the time for discussion will be over. Harden, Embiid, and the 76ers will then have to come up with a plan to make it all work in time to play in the postseason.
After Sunday’s All-Star Game, Embiid stated that “we had to get on the ground together and try building chemistry,” looking forward to the stretch run. It’s going be easy to create that chemistry.
“Everybody’s on the same page. “We all want to win a championship. That’s our goal.”
ESPN’s Kevin Pelton contributed to the story.