CAMDEN, N.J. — The Philadelphia 76ers welcomed James Harden back to the lineup in Monday’s double-overtime loss to the Houston Rockets that ended a winless three-game road trip.
The Beard had missed 14 games due to a right foot tendon strain. He had 21 points on just 4-for-19 shooting in his return.
Now the SIxers have returned home, the Sixers are looking for the Harden and Joel Embiid pairing to get them back in contention in the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia has been dealing with injuries throughout the season and hopes to use this stretch of practice time to resolve multiple issues.
“For us, I think getting everybody in here and having some practice days is important,” said Tobias Harris. “In terms of, like, offensively for this group, it’s just running our stuff and figuring out ways we can exert our options within the offensive package. Playing with pace, but using our defense to fuel getting out in transition and running.”
The Sixers need to get Harden and Embiid on the same page to become the title contenders they believe they can be.
“I just think it’s gonna take time,” added coach Doc Rivers. “Really, today (Thursday) was the first live practice. Yesterday, we didn’t do much, just them on the floor together is good. We did a lot of stuff. We actually did a lot of live stuff which you don’t get a chance to do much during the regular season so it was good.”
PJ Tucker just bullied Jaden Springer, but then Joel Embiid bullied Tucker in some competition after practice #Sixers pic.twitter.com/egHDKirdeg
— Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) December 8, 2022
Getting this practice time is going to help Embiid and Harden and the Sixers as a group. Philadelphia will go as far as those two will take it.
“Obviously, when you got different lineups guys in and out because of injuries, you do need these practice days to go over some stuff,” Harris added. “Just get back to the basics.”
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