High-powered Sixers know there’s still plenty to learn, figure out with Harden originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
For the most part, basketball has looked easy and fun for the Sixers since James Harden’s debut.
Harden already has recorded 56 points, 28 assists and 18 rebounds through two games. He’s invigorated the team’s transition offense, rewarded cutters, and given an enticing idea of why the Sixers could be very difficult to defend in the playoffs.
There’s still a lot to learn, though, and that process can’t always be packed with joy.
“We did a lot of skeleton work — boring, hard, monotonous,” Sixers head coach Doc Rivers said Tuesday of the team’s practice in Camden, New Jersey. “It’s just a tough one because that’s usually not what guys want to do all practice. But because we don’t really know a lot of our stuff defensively and offensively, we took full advantage today. One day’s not going to matter … well, it is going to matter, but it’s not going to change anything overnight. But it was good.”
According to Rivers, it’s not yet prudent for the Sixers to expand their offense.
“No, what we did was we made the plays we’re running better,” he said. “Right now, if you take us out of our first option, guys literally don’t know what to go to. And so we went all the way through each option of each play, explained everything we’re looking for, where we’re trying to get the ball. We spent a ton of time on where to cut, where to space, where to be. And that’s slow, boring, but it’s stuff you have to do.”
Even with that lack of basic knowledge, scoring hasn’t been a struggle. Sixty games into the season, the team’s 133-point performance against the Timberwolves is tied for its highest mark. The 125-point effort in Sunday’s win over the Knicks ranks fourth.
Lineups without Joel Embiid haven’t been quite as great, though. Per Cleaning the Glass, non-garbage time units with Harden and Embiid have a plus-43.1 net rating. When Harden’s played and Embiid’s sat, that figure has dropped to plus-7.8. It’s of course a minuscule sample size, but the broad concept of Embiid being far better than his backup and that contributing to various concerns when he rests is familiar.
Paul Millsap, who stands 6-foot-7, has played behind Embiid the last three games. Willie Cauley-Stein only appeared late in the fourth quarter of the Minnesota blowout, but it sounds like the 7-footer will get a real chance soon. The Sixers will face the Knicks again on Wednesday night for Harden’s home debut.
“We didn’t do enough in practice to see anything, honestly. But we do anticipate using him quickly,” Rivers said of Cauley-Stein. “We’ve just got to see what he can do for us. We need a rim protector and he can be that. He can supply that.”
Tobias Harris has shared the court with Harden in those non-Embiid units and not adapted smoothly. Since Harden’s debut, he’s totaled 18 points on 5-for-18 shooting.
He emphasized a team-oriented attitude Tuesday.
“It’s been two games,” Harris said. “I’m not worried about my offensive points and production. I think everybody has this notion of, ‘Oh, you’ve got to score this many points.’ Yeah, I get it, but at the end of the day I’m a winner and I incorporate into winning basketball. If that’s me taking 15 shots or if that’s me taking eight shots, it is what it is.
“As long as we’re winning basketball games, that’s what the name of the game is about. A lot of people may not like to hear that, but that’s the predicament we’re in right now. We have a lot of firepower, especially with James and Joel on this team. So my goal is to be out here, be ready, and when shots are available and the opportunity is there, take advantage of it and do whatever I can for our group.”
