All Together Now
Many changes have come since the arrival of James Harden. Most of those changes are that in the play of his teammates. James demands so much respect and attention while on the court that it naturally benefits his teammates. Also some much needed roster configuration has occurred given the role players (Seth Curry and Andre Drummond) the Sixers had to send to Brooklyn.
It’s no secret that Joel Embiid is having a MVP type of season, but he looks even better next to a three time scoring champ. He’s gotten to the charity stripe an astonishing 53 times in the past three games. Now Embiid gets to the line more than anyone in the league but with Hardens passing and basketball IQ he’s able to put Embiid in better positioning to be fouled. Tyrese Maxey has made a strong case all year to be the NBA’s Most Improved Player. By handing over point guard duties to Harden he can focus less on playmaking and more on attacking the rim. Maxey has been averaging nearly 25ppg since Harden has ran the point.
Since Harden has entered the lineup Matisse Thybulle has averaged 9.6ppg and shot .375 from three point range. Both would be considered career bests over the course of a full season. Now the sample size is small but the attention Harden draws creates much more spacing. Thybulle is getting that extra second to set his feet and fire away from downtown. Hopefully his bump in offensive efficiency continues.
Earlier today the Sixers signed DeAndre Jordan to a contract. He’s not the same player who once played for the Lob City Clippers next to Blake Griffin when Chris Paul ran the point. Certainly DeAndre is going to fill the void as the backup big that Andre Drummond left. When he was at the peak of his career Doc Rivers was his coach so their familiarity should help DeAndre find his footing. Although not the player he once was he’ll provide rebounding and a defensive prowess that Embiid’s backup should possess.
The Sixers are 3-0 and playing exciting basketball since the inclusion of Harden. Embiid and Maxey have seemingly taken their games to new heights. Defensive stalwart Matisse Thybulle hasn’t been an offensive liability. They’ve added a nice bench piece in DeAndre Jordan to spell Embiid. Everything is coming together for the Sixers and they’re forcing their way to the top of the Eastern Conference standings.
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Categorized:Sixers