The Beard is Here

James Harden played his first game for the Philadelphia 76ers and it went as well as possible. It was a long two weeks but I am confident fans thought it was worth the wait.

Maxey next to Harden

James Harden’s ability to control the game and make plays for others will help Tyrese Maxey more than anyone on the team. Maxey is not a true point guard yet and now he is allowed to be a pure scorer. He can get out in transition and attack closeouts. No one can stay in front Of Maxey one on one and in scramble situations.

 Joel Embiid

Embiid started out passive to begin the game and looked like he did not want to force shots but he eventually found a rhythm and looked like his usual dominant self. He had34 on 10-18 shooting and made it look easy. He also played great help defense while guarding Jarred Vanderbilt. I like to see him be aggressive from 3 because he is a great shooter and Harden will get hum great looks. 

Tobias Harris

Harris had a quiet stat line( 6 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists) but he played well and took the right shots in the offense, and played great defense on Karl Anthony-Towns. He took 6 threes in the game and he got great looks and opportunities e=next to Harden and Maxey. Allowing Harris to be the 3rd or 4th option on offense is something most teams cannot say and gives the sixers a huge advantage. 

The offense

The team started the game trying to get Harden handoffs going to his left and sharing the ball-handling duties. By the second half, it was a lot more high pick-and-roll and Harden isolations. It is important to mix it up and play a dynamic style.

Closing thoughts

Harden's first game is hopefully a sign of times to come. All the pieces fit on this team and Harden is the elite perimeter player we have needed for years. Players like shake Milton, Furkan Korkmaz, Georges Niang, and Danny Green are great fits as they are great shooters with quick releases and they all play hard on defense. The team could use another forward in the rotation but the east is wide open and it is no reason the Sixers can't win the finals