The Philadelphia 76ers picked up a 120-110 win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night to improve to 3-0 on their West Coast road trip. Joel Embiid once again had a dominant night: 41 points on 12-for-22 shooting.
However, while Embiid flourished, James Harden had a tough night.
While Harden had nine assists in the win, he shot 1-for-6 from the floor and he was 0-for-4 from deep for six points. That will not get it done in the playoffs and Jamal Crawford has questions about The Beard for the playoffs.
Crawford on Harden after the game:
The thing that scares me about them is if (Tyrese) Maxey and Tobias Harris are your second leading guys, I’m not sure it’s gonna get you far in the playoffs. James Harden was brought there to be the second guy. I love point guard James Harden. I love how he passes the ball, but getting or five six shots in the playoffs? … Yeah, that’s not gonna get it done playoffs. I’m saying that respectfully.
"If Maxey and Tobias Harris are your second-leading guys, I'm not sure its gonna get you far in the playoffs" đź‘€@JCrossover on his expectations for James Harden with the Sixers pic.twitter.com/kC0CJwB9On
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 18, 2023
The Sixers will definitely need more from Harden in order to go deep into the playoffs like they expect to, but the future Hall of Famer is human, at the end of the day. Nights like Tuesday are going to happen. He has been shooting the ball well recently and that is the Harden the Sixers will need in the postseason.
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