PHILADELPHIA — The preseason is over for the Philadelphia 76ers after they faced the Atlanta Hawks on Friday. Their attention now fully turns to opening night and the Milwaukee Bucks on Oct. 26.
The Sixers continue to prepare for the season amid the James Harden saga. At the moment, Harden is away from the team dealing with a personal matter, but he also wants out of Philadelphia and wants to be traded.
Due to the nature of the situation and the unpredictability of Harden every day, the Sixers are preparing for the Bucks as if he will not play in Milwaukee.
“I’ve been preparing for it all this week for sure,” said coach Nick Nurse. “I think lots of thought is going into him not playing and preparing the team that way this summer. I keep saying there’s another plan if something changes, and I don’t think it’s affected us very much at all. We’ve just gone out and played.”
Harden had been a professional throughout training camp and the preseason while he waits for his trade request to be fulfilled. Therefore, one has to give him the benefit of the doubt that maybe he is dealing with something serious back in Houston.
Regardless, Nurse and the Sixers are preparing for the Bucks as if he will not be there.
“We’re going to have to go out and play the way we’re trying to play now,” Nurse finished. “I think that is without him until something changes.”
[lawrence-related id=85110,85107,85117]