After the trade deadline in the NBA, the Philadelphia 76ers acquired the all-star shooting guard, James Harden, from the Brooklyn Nets for Ben Simmons. Just a few months ago, the Ben Simmons saga was stirring in Philly. Though it has ended now, a new project is sparking in the organization. Pairing The Beard with an MVP favorite in Joel Embiid, the team is looking mighty scary.
The Sixers are sitting in the 5th spot in the East, with 34-22. But, the competition in the Eastern conference is very close, and at any time, the 1st seed can become the 8th seed. The question is, will the duo of James Harden and Joel Embiid work?
A Motivated James Harden & an MVP-Caliber Joel Embiid
Acquiring James Harden, a shooting guard, which is the complete opposite of Ben Simmons is a drastic change in the team. James is famously known as a prolific scorer, and a great facilitator, but has a weakness in defending opponents. While, Simmons on the other hand, was a pass-first point guard who is an anchor on the defensive end, but refuses to shoot the ball at times.
It wasn’t clear ’til now that the Sixers management was already eyeing James Harden as a substitute for Simmons. It was clear that Simmons already wants out of Philly, and the organization is aware of that. Daryl Morey (Sixers President of Basketball Operations) previously worked with James Harden in Houston Rockets, as the team’s General Manager. For months, they continuously decline trade offers from different teams, until the offer from Brooklyn Nets came.
This duo is pretty scary on the offensive end, as well as the defensive side. Teams are already having a hard time guarding Joel Embiid in the post. If they add another offensive weapon in James Harden, it might be probably game over in the East.
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The previous problem in Brooklyn Nets and Harden was that he was “unmotivated”. Due to KD’s injury and Kyrie being unable to play home games, The Beard was growing impatient.
Chemistry-wise, they still have a long way to go.
- They only have a short time to prepare for the playoffs. It’s coming closer, and in just a few weeks, the fight for the 2022 NBA Championships will begin.
- We have seen James Harden play point guard in Brooklyn, and we might see it again in Philadelphia. The so-called unmotivated Harden averaged 22 points and 10 assists per game during his time in Brooklyn and was selected as an All-Star again this season.
Jojo is in his best form and is playing his best season.
Ranked 2nd on the MVP ladder, Jojo is set to become one of the future faces of the league. Averaging 30 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists per contest. But, even if the duo works, the team still has to become better. The Sixers’ second unit is somewhat decent but lacks the firepower to match with that of other teams (i.e. Cavs, Heat, Bulls, and Bucks).
Although, the Sixers have other players they can count on. Offensively, players such as Tobias Harris (19 ppg), Tyrese Maxey (17 ppg), and in the defensive end, defense specialists Matisse Thybulle and Danny Green. Doc Rivers is in-charge in fully utilizing James Harden and Joel Embiid’s talents for the team’s betterment. If Jojo stays healthy, we can see an exciting bout in the East this season.
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