PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 17: James Harden #1 of the Philadelphia 76ers drives to the basket against ... [+] Seth Curry #30 of the Brooklyn Nets during Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at the Wells Fargo Center on April 17, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesThe Philadelphia 76ers have jumped out to a 2-0 series lead over the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the 2023 NBA playoffs. They're now commanding -4500 favorites to advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, where they're likely to clash with the No. 2 seed Boston Celtics.
To topple their Atlantic Division rivals in the next round, the Sixers will need James Harden to get back to being a three-level scorer.
Harden shot only 11-of-34 from the floor during the first two games against the Nets, including 2-of-13 from two-point range. He had his step-back jumper working in Game 1 (7-of-13 from three-point range), but he was ice-cold in Game 2, finishing with only eight points on 3-of-13 shooting overall (2-of-8 from deep).
In Game 1, the Nets liberally switched their defensive assignments, allowing Harden to pick on mismatches at times. Dorian Finney-Smith and Royce O'Neale spent the most time guarding him—and he shot 2-of-6 against them as his primary defender—but he went 4-of-5 against Spencer Dinwiddie, Joe Harris and Seth Curry.
In Game 2, the Nets made a concerted effort to keep O'Neale and Mikal Bridges on Harden. Bridges guarded him for a game-high 24.2 partial possessions, and Harden scored zero points on 0-of-1 shooting against him. He didn't fare much better against O'Neale (1-of-2 overall), although he did pick up two assists against only one turnover.
“I think the matchup of putting Mikal on James had its benefits, for sure,” Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn told reporters after the game. “Look at James' stats.”
The Nets' rangy wings have bothered Harden with their length on defense, but the degree of difficult will only ramp up against Boston. The Celtics have 2021-22 Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart and Derrick White in the backcourt alongside the All-Star duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. With Malcolm Brogdon coming off the bench, Harden won't be able to hunt mismatches like he has at times against Brooklyn.
Even at his peak, elite speed never fueled Harden's scoring ability. Rather than blow by defenders like Tyrese Maxey or De'Aaron Fox, Harden relied more on footwork and craftiness to draw contact and muscle through defenders for and-one opportunities.
Those have been few and far between against Brooklyn, particularly in transition.
Harden's inability to draw shooting fouls may be the most concerning aspect of his performance thus far against Brooklyn. He attempted only 6.2 free-throw attempts per game during the regular season, which was his lowest mark since the 2011-12 campaign, when he was a sixth man with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Still, he had at least one free-throw attempt in all 58 of the regular-season outings in which he appeared this year.
Harden did not attempt a single free throw in either Game 1 or Game 2 against Brooklyn, which is a major outlier relative to his career norm.
Prior to this season, Harden had played in 149 playoff games. He had zero free-throw attempts in only 10 of those games, seven of which came with the Thunder early in his career. Another one was the game against the Milwaukee Bucks in which he played only one minute before injuring his hamstring and exiting.
Harden also had zero free-throw attempts in the Sixers' season-ending loss to the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals last year. He's now riding a three-game playoff streak without a single trip to the charity stripe.
Updated NBA points of emphasis may be partially to blame, as referees have been instructed to "enforce the playing rules in a manner that reduces the incentive for offensive players to use non-basketball moves to draw fouls." With that said, Harden did have double-digit free-throw attempts in nine regular-season games this season. Referees may be more inclined to swallow their whistles and allow more physical contact in the playoffs, but that doesn't fully explain such a stark drop-off in free-throw attempts.
It's fair to wonder whether health may be contributing to Harden's struggles around the rim. He missed a few games late in the regular season because of Achilles soreness, although he repeatedly batted away concern about the injury following his return.
"It’s been bothering me for some months, I would say," Harden told reporters in late March. "I just wanted to continue to play on it, and there was one point to where the last game I played, [it was] just really unbearable so I couldn’t even go out there."
In that game—a double-overtime loss to the Chicago Bulls—Harden finished with a season-low five points on 2-of-14 shooting. That was his worst shooting performance with the Sixers, although he did have 12 assists, seven rebounds, one steal and one block as well.
After practice Wednesday, Rivers said suboptimal floor spacing may be partially to blame for Harden's mediocre shooting as well.
"Even when James did get in the paint, two of our guys were standing there," he told reporters. "In basketball, you get to the paint, it’s OK if two defensive players are there, but two of your guys shouldn’t be there as well because that makes it easier for them to help. I thought our spacing was really poor in transition especially, and that's where it has to be at its best."
Even if Harden can't get going as a scorer, he's by far the Sixers' best playmaker, particularly in the half court. They can't afford to turn away from him in favor of De'Anthony Melton or Shake Milton, particularly whenever Joel Embiid is off the floor. Harden has also been paired with the second unit in recent months, which has helped that group generate cleaner offense.
"He ran the team in the second half," head coach Doc Rivers told reporters after Game 2. "That's what we needed him to do tonight. He didn't have a great offensive night scoring, but the second-half adjustment by James, because he had to be the guy to do it, he ran the team, and that's why we won the game."
Meanwhile, Maxey noted Wednesday that the defensive attention Harden draws on his drives to the basket opens up opportunities for his teammates, even when he isn't scoring.
"He’s getting there," he told reporters. "He’s just gotta finish it. It’s not like he can’t get there. He’s getting to the rim. I’m not worried about James making layups, but you’re right. When he gets to the rim, the defense has to collapse, and they know that he’s a threat to score in there.”
Given the overall talent gap between the two teams, the Sixers should be able to dispatch the Nets even with a diminished version of Harden. But if they do meet the Celtics in the next round, they'll need Harden to be far more consistent as a scorer to advance to their first Eastern Conference Finals in 20-plus years.
Unless otherwise noted, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball Reference. All salary information via Spotrac or RealGM. All odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.
Bryan Toporek, Senior Contributor
https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryantoporek/2023/04/20/the-sixers-title-hopes-rest-on-getting-more-out-of-james-harden/
By: Bryan Toporek, Senior Contributor
Title: The Sixers' Title Hopes Rest On Getting More Out Of James Harden
Sourced From: www.forbes.com/sites/bryantoporek/2023/04/20/the-sixers-title-hopes-rest-on-getting-more-out-of-james-harden/
Published Date: 04-20-2023
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a buyout?
A buyout agreement in the NBA is between a club and a player. The team agrees that it will pay a portion or all of the contract amount that the player is entitled to. This allows players to become free agents and sign with any other team in the league as soon as their buyout is complete. The league allows teams to change their roster composition or reduce their salaries during the season.
What is the NBA Draft exactly?
The NBA Draft is an annual tournament in which eligible players are selected by teams. It is held each June and includes two rounds. Each team gets one selection per round. The order of the draft will be determined by the teams' records from previous seasons. The worst team receiving the first and best picks respectively. These teams have the option to draft college and international players over 19 years. This event is vital for teams as they can acquire new talent or build their rosters. It offers the opportunity for players from other leagues or colleges to play in the NBA.
Who made the NBA's first basket?
Ossie Schetzman, an American professional basketball athlete, was the first to score a basket in the Basketball Association of America. The NBA would become the National Basketball Association later. The basket was scored on November 1, 1946, in a game between the Toronto Huskies and New York Knickerbockers. Schectman's historic first basket was the opening of the inaugural season for BAA.
What is a restricted free player in the NBA?
A restricted free agent in the NBA is a player who has completed their rookie contract and becomes an unrestricted free agent whose rights are still held by their previous team. In such a situation, the team is allowed to match any offer made by another team to the player. If the player chooses to do this, they will need to stay with their current team and keep their existing contract. This allows players to be retained who have been valuable in the past, but are not currently able or able afford them. Restricted-free agents are a type that allows teams to have a lot of flexibility when creating their rosters.
Statistics
- Between 2012 and 2019, the league lost 40 to 45 percent of its viewership. (en.wikipedia.org)
- The 2013–14 season opened with 92 international players on the opening night rosters, representing 39 countries and over 20 percent of the league. (en.wikipedia.org)
- Williams would 'likely' accept a deal worth $14-15M/year; Celtics are 'unlikely' to offer such a deal (HoopsHype) (bleacherreport.com)
- Williams would 'likely' accept a deal worth $14-15M/year; Celtics are 'unlikely' to offer such a deal (HoopsHype) (bleacherreport.com)
- Meanwhile, the opening night rosters include a record-setting 234 players with some G League experience, according to the NBA ( Twitter link ). (hoopsrumors.com)
External Links
si.com
twitter.com
- Tweet / Twitter
- Sam Amico on Twitter: "Timberwolves Waive PJ Dozier, CJ Elleby and AJ Lawson - Hoops Wire https://t.co/xKu1ZTuQZN" / Twitter
sbnation.com
basketball-reference.com
- Thomas Bryant Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more | Basketball-Reference.com
- Dennis Schroder Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more | Basketball-Reference.com
How To
What is the best method to get drafted into NBA?
You can become a NBA player by going to college or high school.
NCAA schools offer college players the opportunity to attend Duke University, North Carolina State University or the University of Kentucky. These schools offer four-years of education and training. Players develop ball handling, shooting, and rebounding skills during this period. They learn how to run an offense and defense. They are also taught how to think like a professional athlete.
Prep schools are open to high school athletes from outside their home states. These schools provide personalized attention to athletes and help them develop their talent. Players are taught academics, character development, and sportsmanship.
Both types must pass the same physical exams before they are allowed into the draft. The test involves running 40 meters, jumping over a 5'6", standing on one foot, and throwing a football through tires.
After passing these tests, players can be invited to workout with different NBA teams. They are evaluated based on their height and weight as well as their speed.
Also, teams look at the player's previous experience. For instance, if a player has played AAU basketball, he will likely receive preferential treatment.
Players considered too small to play professionally are sometimes called "one-and-done" prospects. These players are typically selected in the second round.
Some players decide to skip college to play in the NBA. These players are known to be "prospects". Prospects don't have to wait to declare themselves eligible to draft.
They may apply for an exemption in order to be permitted to join the draft earlier. If a prospect does, he will be eligible to compete with other prospects during pre-draft.
Summer leagues are a great way for prospects to increase their chances of being selected. Summer league games take place in July and August.
Scouts can see players live without having to worry about injuries.
June is the NBA Draft. It is when all the top NBA prospects are evaluated. Each team gets a certain number of picks within each round.
The 15th overall selection is, for example, the pick 1 in the first round. The 60th pick in the third round is the 20th selection.
Teams trade after the draft to add players to their rosters. Some teams host mini-camp tryouts, inviting potential draftees along to train with them.
It's exciting to draft day! What happens?
There is no waiting around for your name to come up once the draft has begun. Every NBA team chooses from the pool of potential players.
When a team has selected a player, it sends him his contract, which details his salary and playing time as well as benefits. He is made a part of the organization.
He also gets a jersey with the name of his choice on the back, and a new uniform with his nickname.
He signs the contract. This means that he has officially joined the NBA.
