The Philadelphia 76ers have a brand new star duo led by future Hall of Famer James Harden and MVP candidate Joel Embiid and the two of them are off to a great start as a duo. The Sixers have won the first two games of the Harden era by double digits.
Harden is averaging 28 points, 14 assists, and nine rebounds in his first two games with the Sixers and he is also shooting 57.7% from the floor and he’s 8-for-14 from deep. Embiid hasn’t lost a beat either averaging 35.5 points and 9.5 rebounds.
After the team’s 125-109 win over the New York Knicks on Sunday, the big fella said that he and Harden are an unstoppable duo because of how talented their both are and how they have put things together rather quickly.
However, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith isn’t ready to say they’re unstoppable just yet as they have only beaten the Minnesota Timberwolves–who have been solid in the West–and the struggling Knicks to start off.
Smith said:
We ain’t seen the Nets on the court together yet. I mean, there’s no Ben Simmons yet. There’s no Kyrie (Irving) with KD (Kevin Durant) yet. Okay? KD is coming back. The mandate in New York City might be lifted. I mean, my God, God forbid that Kyrie Irving actually just to play games at the Barclays Center. I mean, we haven’t seen that yet. I understand the greatness of Embiid and Harden. I get that and if they continue to play like that, Daryl Morey looks phenomenal. I got that, but damn! Can we see them play against somebody other than Minnesota and New York before we make such proclamations? I mean, my goodness.
The Sixers are certainly off to an impressive start of the Harden era, but Smith does have a point. The Timberwolves have been solid out West, but they aren’t a championship contender and the Knicks have been struggling all season.
After hosting the Knicks on Wednesday, the Sixers have some tough matchups coming up against the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Miami Heat, the Chicago Bulls, and the Brooklyn Nets. That will tell more about the Sixers as they continue to grow their new star duo.
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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