After an up and down first spherical, James Harden and the Philadelphia 76ers complicated to the Jap Convention semifinals.
Harden was once excellent – 19 issues and 10.2 assists throughout 40.6 mins in step with sport on 40.5% from the sphere and 38.2% from deep.
He struggled in video games 2, 4, and 5, however had sturdy showings in video games 1, 3, and six to near out the sequence towards the Toronto Raptors.
On the other hand, he didn’t have an ideal appearing in Recreation 1 of the ECSF towards the Miami Warmth.
16 issues on 5-13 from the sphere, 2-7 from past the arc, and 4-4 from the road to move together with 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 turnovers.
Harden’s struggles in Recreation 5 of the primary spherical and Recreation 1 of the ECSF are in particular being concerned as a result of they got here when Joel Embiid was once hampered through a torn ligament in his thumb (Recreation 5) and no longer taking part in because of an orbital fracture and gentle concussion (Recreation 1).
James Harden has been held underneath 25 issues in 11 directly playoff video games, his longest streak since he got here off the bench in OKC.
Yikes.
(by way of @ramonashelburne) %.twitter.com/9q7p9M4F0v
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) Would possibly 3, 2022
“The Beard” was once dropped at Philly to relieve one of the crucial rigidity placed on Embiid to hold the offense.
Harden was once meant to make existence more straightforward on Joel but additionally care for offensive potency when he sat.
Up to now, that has no longer been the case.
Early returns from the playoffs and steady season make it obvious Harden can not elevate the 76ers with out Embiid.
Harden Is Now not The Participant He As soon as Used to be
On paper, Harden continues to be placing up spectacular numbers.
21 issues, 10.5 assists, and seven.1 rebounds in step with sport on 60.1% true capturing throughout 21 regular-season video games with the 76ers.
The numbers are down moderately within the playoffs – 18.6 issues, 9.4 assists, and 5.6 rebounds on 57.7% true capturing – however nonetheless glance cast.
On the other hand, the attention check does no longer again up what’s being written down within the stat sheet.
James does no longer have the similar explosiveness he had again in Houston.
Whether or not this is from his hamstring factor or simply ageing, it has develop into an issue.
What made Harden an all-time nice scorer was once his skill to overcome his defender in isolation and make a play.
He may just both end on the rim, toss a lob to a rolling heart, or kick out to an open shooter.
Nevertheless it was once all reliant on Harden with the ability to get through his guy utterly.
That has no longer came about a lot with Philly and even if it has, his loss of burst has restricted his skill to complete within the paint.
Outdoor of 1 dunk in Recreation 6, Harden’s half-court finishes have consisted nearly completely of floaters and layups.
~tHe HaRdEn DuNk~ %.twitter.com/Z1Fc62ywal
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) Would possibly 1, 2022
With defenses not fearing him like they as soon as did, he does no longer draw in as a lot consideration.
This has ended in passing lanes remaining and less open teammates.
Including this to his decreased effectiveness across the rim, Harden merely can not elevate an offense like he as soon as did.
Complicated Lineup Statistics
Whilst Harden’s person stats don’t paint a dire image, the lineup information does.
Listed here are the lineup splits from the steady season with Harden and Embiid off and on the court docket, all given in in step with 100 possessions:
- Harden On, Embiid On: 1,214 Possessions, 124.1 issues, 108.4 issues allowed, +15.8 differential (99th Percentile)
- Harden On, Embiid Off: 374 Possessions, 114.2 issues, 125.7 issues allowed, -11.6 differential (ninth Percentile)
- Harden Off, Embiid On: 3,350 Possessions, 114.3 issues, 109.2 issues allowed, +5.1 differential (78th Percentile)
And listed below are those self same splits from the postseason:
- Harden On, Embiid On: 371 Possessions, 121.6 issues, 106.4 issues allowed, +15.1 (ninetieth Percentile)
- Harden On, Embiid Off: 150 Possessions, 110 issues, 118.4 issues allowed, -8.4 (twenty first Percentile)
- Harden Off, Embiid Off: 66 Possessions, 112.1 issues, 124.6 issues allowed, -12.5 (eleventh Percentile)
A small pattern dimension caution exists on the vast majority of those splits, however they start to paint an image.
And they aren’t very best stats – the commonest Harden-only and Embiid-only lineups within the playoffs are each vastly sure.
However total it kind of feels transparent Harden can not elevate the Sixers’ offense when Embiid isn’t at the flooring.
#NBA column: Tobias Harris excels in Recreation 1 loss to #Warmth with out Joel Embiid, however the #Sixers want James Harden to take greater than 13 pictures: https://t.co/7BEtMsHkLJ %.twitter.com/la5NTGWP60
— Tom Moore (@TomMoorePhilly) Would possibly 3, 2022
This isn’t a large indictment of Harden.
Anyone taking part in with out their MVP-caliber teammate will see a decline in play.
However Philly wishes their celebrity guard to reduce the dramatic swing when Embiid sits.
Up to now, Harden has no longer been ready to achieve this.
