Hey, remember that long time ago when Daryl Morey went all in on James Harden for half a decade and the Houston Rockets canned him for it? Looks like the Nets star's former GM still has him in his thoughts:
Morey: "I think Brooklyn's going to go into these playoffs the favorite, but we're right there."
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) March 26, 2021
Coming off the heels of a scorching-hot Nets run (they've won 16 of their last 19 games), the now-general manager of the Eastern Conference-leading Philadelphia 76ers waxed poetic over the team's division rival.
The Sixers currently sit 1.5 games ahead of the Nets in the Eastern Conference standings, but are in danger of losing that top spot in the wake of MVP-candidate Joel Embiid. The Nets, meanwhile, have managed their trio of stars well, being able to rotate them in and out of the lineup for rest without losing much of their scoring punch.
The key thus far has been Morey's former favorite son James Harden, who with his recent play has planted his own flag as a legitimate candidate in this year's MVP race (25.3 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 11.2 APG, 24.3 PER).
Philadelphia, who largely seemed to disappoint last season, has enjoyed the top spot in the Eastern Conference for much of this year. This success has been largely predicated on the newfound synergy between stars Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, who have flourished in evolved roles.
Before the Nets traded for James Harden, of course, rumors and speculation swirled about their chances against any of the East's premiere contenders. But now, the Nets are coming at Philadelphia with a historically great offensive attack, one that Daryl Morey is plenty familiar with.
While the GM's words are not exactly encouraging for the Sixers' roster or fans, he is simply acknowledging a threat. He knows how dangerous Harden can be, and by extension, he knows how dangerous these Nets can be.
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