It's been just over two long weeks since the trade was completed, but now, it is finally time.
James Harden, one of the 75 best players in NBA history, is going to play for the Sixers.
Harden is expected to be in the lineup on Friday night vs. the Timberwolves in Minnesota, giving fans, media and the rest of the league their first chance to see Joel Embiid, Harden and the new-look Sixers.
Here five things to look for in Harden's debut:
The 5th Starter: It will be interesting to see who Doc Rivers decides to go with as the team's fifth starter. The top two options seem to be Matisse Thybulle or Danny Green. It appears Thybulle is the likely choice, as video out of practice on Thursday showed Joel Embiid, Harden, Tobias Harris, Thybulle and Furkan Korkmaz on one team during a scrimmage, with Green on the opposing team. Assuming Korkmaz was in for Maxey, who was absent from practice for personal reasons, that means Thybulle is looks set to be the fifth starter.
The case for Thybulle starting is an obvious one.
The Sixers need perimeter defense, and Thybulle is one of the best defenders in the NBA, especially along the perimeter. Thybulle, however, has not improved on offense the way the Sixers hoped he would, and is shooting just 28% from three on only 2.4 attempts this season. With Harden in the lineup Thybulle is going to get the chance to shoot way more threes, and to stay in the lineup, he is going to need to be a willing shooter at better than 28%.
Green is in many ways the opposite of Thybulle — not as strong on defense, but an elite shooter on offense. Green is shooting 37% from three this season on 4.7 attempts and is a very willing shooter when given the chance. That is especially important with Harden on the floor considering his elite ability to get the shooters around him open looks.
The bet here is that Rivers goes with Thybulle, but will be quick to go to Green if Thybulle isn't a willing and productive shooter on the offensive end.
Harden's Health: Harden's hamstring injury was viewed by some as simply an excuse to help him get out Brooklyn, but the reality is that Harden has been hampered by a hamstring injury for close to a year now, including during the Nets playoff run last year. The Sixers have taken it slow with Harden, giving him two weeks since the trade to rest and rehab to get back to 100%. Harden has said he will be full-go once he returns. Seeing how Harden looks coming off of a long time off due to injury is going to be interesting.
Tyrese Maxey: The player most impacted by the arrival of Harden is Tyrese Maxey. Maxey has done a good job this season running the point, averaging 4.6 assists to just 1.2 turnovers, a very solid showing for the first-year starter. With Harden now on the team, however, Maxey is going to be playing far less point guard, and should be off ball more than ever before. It will be interesting to see how Maxey adjusts to not being the primary ball handler. An encouraging sign for how Maxey will adjust is his willingness to shoot from deep this season, as he has gone from attempting 1.7 threes per game last season to 3.6 this season. Maxey is going to have a chance to significantly increase that number, and should lean into what seems to be his natural instinct as a scorer.
Doc Rivers: One of the most frustrating parts of Rivers coaching this season has been his insistence on going with all bench lineups. That tendency was frustrating enough prior to the trade, but now, there is no excuse to not have at least one of Embiid, Harden, Maxey or Tobias Harris on the floor during meaningful minutes. There is no question that the acquisition of Harden increases the expectations for the Sixers, and a result, increase the pressure for Rivers to make sure this team makes a deep run in the playoffs. Rivers continuing to go with all-bench lineups is one way for him to ensure his seat heats up.
Crunch time: One of the main reasons the Sixers were knocked out by the Atlanta Hawks last season was the lack of a perimeter player they could count on late in games. Harden, obviously, changes that in a major way. The Timberwolves have cooled off since a hot start, but are still a talented team that would be in the playoffs if the season ended today. There is a good chance the game on Friday night is close, and if it is, it is going to be fascinating to see who the Sixers go to in crunch time. Do they go inside to MVP-candidate Joel Embiid, or do they allow Harden to create on the perimeter? How they handle it, as well as who is on the floor with Embiid and Harden, could be a preview of what they end up doing in the playoffs.
You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com
