CAMDEN, N.J.–This is it for the Philadelphia 76ers. Everything that they have worked for and the reason why they made the big trade to acquire James Harden to team up with Joel Embiid was for one reason: to contend for a championship.
It has been a bit up and down with Harden since he came to the City of Brotherly Love. He averaged 21 points, 10.5 assists, and 7.1 rebounds in 21 games for the Sixers while shooting 40.2% from the floor and 32.6% from deep. The numbers are solid, but there have been some obvious spots where things haven’t looked great in terms of chemistry and how they want to run things.
However, after three days of practice, Harden is beginning to feel comfortable with his new team.
“It’s been really helpful,” said Harden. “Honestly, our execution and in-game situations that I was a little uncertain about is made clear now, but it’s for all of us. This is a feel. Just kinda feeling our spacing and things like that offensively. Defensively, making sure we’re on the same page, and then it’s details. Knowing what they like to do, knowing what Toronto likes to do, and knowing how we can execute.”
The big thing is making sure Harden and Embiid are on the same page going into the playoffs. It was clear that the two of them were able to grow a chemistry right away, but now, it is playoff time, and these practices have been helpful.
“These last few days have been great,” said Embiid. “Just really getting on the same page, going against each other, obviously the game is completely different, but I think we’re gonna be fine. I think we’re starting to find the right balance of how to play together. I think everybody understands their role and that’s how we’re gonna win.”
Coach Doc Rivers did admit that Harden and the Sixers were still a work in progress, but now, after a few days, Rivers is happy with what he sees and agrees with Embiid.
“Definitely,” said Rivers. “I thought today (Thursday), you can see a little bit of a breakthrough of just execution offensively. Defensively, getting it, ball movement vs. switching and trapping. Yeah, I would agree with that.”
Game 1 for Harden and the Sixers will be on Saturday at 6 p.m. EDT.
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