BOSTON — Not a lot went right for the Philadelphia 76ers in the season-opening loss to the Boston Celtics on the road, but they can hang their hat on the play of James Harden and Tobias Harris.
Harden was terrific to begin his first full season in Philadelphia, He looked explosive on offense, and Harris was an underrated part of the Sixers having any type of success.
When the Sixers started slowly on offense on Tuesday, they went to Harris for some offense and he responded. He had eight points in the first quarter and knocked down a 3 to steady the ship. He finished with 18 points while knocking down three 3s.
“Tobias was huge,” said coach Doc Rivers. “He was great all night. He played the right way all night. He has given himself completely to the team. He played off of guys. He scored off of other guys. His spirit, we need 15 of those because if we could have that with everybody then that team we talk about, the Celtics being all bought in, then you have that. He’s been great.”
This is a tough adjustment for Harris. He was originally the No. 2 option on offense, but then the Sixers acquired Harden. Then Tyrese Maxey made such a huge leap that Harris is relegated to being the No. 4 option on offense.
He could complain he doesn’t get enough shots, but he hasn’t. He has completely bought into what the team needs, and he also added some solid defensive play.
“It’s tough,” Rivers added. “You go from the second option to the third option at times to the fourth, it’s not easy. It’s easy for everyone on the outside to think ‘Well, he should do that.’ That’s hard to do. It really is and yet he’s doing it because he wants us to win. I give him all the credit in the world and on defense, too. He’s playing hard, he’s playing right, he could be the first guy that complains and he’s not doing it.”
The Sixers will look to bounce back when they take on the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday in the home opener.
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