Coming out of the All-Star break, the Philadelphia 76res are one of the most exciting teams in basketball. After utilizing the week off for extended rest, James Harden has made his long-awaited Sixers debut. Through two games, the addition of the former MVP is already paying huge dividends.
Despite the minimal time to prepare, Harden has seamlessly integrated himself into the lineup. He is putting up big performances while elevating the players around him. Having an elite-level playmaker on the floor has simplified the game for some and created an array of scoring looks that weren't there before.
When the trade became official, many began to discuss Philly's new superstar duo. Joel Embiid has proven to be one of the league's most unstoppable forces and a favorite for MVP for the second straight season. With a ball-dominant player like Harden alongside him now, some speculated if the two would be able to co-exist.
Through two games, the Sixers' new duo has laid to rest any doubt that they won't be able to make it work. Their two-man game is borderline unguardable, and they are putting the league on notice. It might be a bit premature, but Embiid and Harden are arguably the best pairing in the NBA right now.
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The Sixers traveled to Madison Square Garden on Sunday for an afternoon matchup with the Knicks. They coasted to their third straight win rather easily in large part due to the play of their top talents. Embiid posted a monster stat line of 37 points, nine rebounds, and four blocks, while Harden notched his first triple-double in his new threads (29 points, 10 rebounds, 16 assists).
Following the win, Harden touched on the growing chemistry of his new All-Star teammate. He is very comfortable playing with Embiid and feels things are only going to get better in regards to their two-man game.
Via Rich Hofmann of The Athletic:
“I feel very comfortable. He likes to pop, he likes to roll, he likes to mix it in a little bit. As long as we continue our communication on ‘this play is this, this play is that,' things will be great.”
Daryl Morey pursued Harden heavily because of his fit with Embiid, and the results are speaking for themselves. The two have instantly clicked on the court and are already picking defenses apart at a high level. One key reason why the Sixers pulled away late to beat the Knicks was because of how effective Embiid and Harden were in the pick-and-roll.
Given how skilled both players are, the Sixers' late-game offense is so simple now. Just get Harden and Embiid in a high pick-and-roll and trust the two will be able to make the correct read. This was the game plan in New York on Sunday, and it worked perfectly.
Because they can score from about anywhere on the floor, defenses are forced to pick their poison. They threw multiple different looks at the Sixers, but the result was typically a made basket or a foul to get free throws. Embiid shot a whopping 27 free throws on Sunday.
It's still early, but there is no denying Embiid and Harden have come together quicker than a lot of people first expected. This has been a huge positive for the Sixers as they have slightly over 20 games to have this group prepared for the postseason.
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