James Harden and Joel Embiid just became the most deadly duo in the NBA today. The former joined up with Embiid after the Brooklyn Nets traded him to the Philadelphia 76ers for Ben Simmons. Now, two MVP candidates reside in Philly, making things a lot more scary for the Eastern Conference.

It's about to even more scary for the Sixers' opponents in the near future. The star duo might just be in their early years, but Harden already wants Embiid to relax and give him the ball more. Knowing that the latter handled the burden of the offense for years, Harden knows he can help make things easier for the Cameroonian superstar. (via Sixers Wire)

“I continue to tell Jo, he’s just so used to just dribbling up and having to go 1-on-1 which he’s great at, but I try to make the game easier for him in the sense of ‘OK, you give me the ball whenever the game slows down and whatnot, I can get you some easy ones so you don’t have to go against a defender every single time.”

Embiid blossomed as one of the best scorers in the NBA last season, but most of it was borne out of necessity. Simmons' inability and reluctance to score for himself forced him to create opportunities for himself and the Sixers. It worked out for him individually, finishing second in MVP voting, but it's not a sustainable model for success.

Harden knows this all too well: after all, he shouldered the brunt of the load during his time in Houston. It led to a lot of success for him, but it didn't exactly translate into winning playoff basketball. Now, he has the opportunity to play with an elite big man with the Sixers  and make things a hell of a lot easier for him and his new team.

On paper, Embiid and Harden are already a dangerous tag-team duo. Embiid's dominant inside game is the perfect complement to Harden's outside barrage. Pair that with the latter's strong pick-and-roll game, and we have ourselves a dangerous contender in Philadelphia. It might take some time for them to adjust, but when they get going, they are easily the favorites to make it to the Finals.