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I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say that James Harden holds all the keys to the postseason for the 76ers.
Yes, Philly, you have possible MVP Joel Embiid as your superstar, breakout stud Tyrese Maxey, a sharpshooter in Tobias Harris and key defender Matthias Thybulle.
But the Harden trade unlocked so much for the Sixers, giving Doc Rivers so many options — you can pick-and-roll with Embiid, you can let Harden cook solo like he has for so many years, you can open things up for Maxey and rest Embiid without worrying too much about Philadelphia’s bench.
But that all falls apart when Harden struggles. And as our Robert Zeglinski wrote about Harden’s 3-of-17 night with just 11 points, five assists and six boards, that can’t happen in the postseason.
Obviously, this Sixers team isn’t the Houston Rockets of late last decade. But remember 0-of-11 from distance in Game 5 of the 2018 Western finals against the Warriors? Or 2-of-13 from three in Game 7 of that series? There were struggles against the Lakers at certain points in the bubble back in 2020. Obviously, he wasn’t healthy in last season’s playoffs, so I’m not sure I can count that.
The point is: If this what we see from Harden in a couple of months, it could be a disaster for a team that could contend.
Quick hits: BASEBALL IS BACK! … The Khalil Mack trade shook things up … Patrick Reed, flipping the bird … and more.
— Baseball is back with the MLB lockout over, so here are the changes coming with the players and owners agreeing. Here are some updated World Series odds. And fans are excited about the extra-innings runner rule going away.
— The Khalil Mack trade to the Chargers just made a tough AFC West even tougher.
— Cameras caught Patrick Reed flipping off and swearing at his golf ball at the Players.
— Steph Curry surprised a devastated fan who didn’t get to see him play.