Breaking: The Sixers are way, way better with James Harden than Ben Simmons.
Harden was everything the Sixers could have hoped for on Friday night in the team's 133-102 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, his debut with the team after a blockbuster trade just over two weeks ago.
After years of having to watch the team try to win with a point guard that both couldn't shoot and refused to shoot, the Sixers looked like a completely different team with an actual All Star at point guard in Harden, who both distributed and scored the ball.
Harden finished with 27 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds while hitting five three pointers.
Yes, it was just one game. But anyone watching the Sixers on Friday night had to come away with one obvious and major takeaway — this team is going to be very, very good.
James Harden: There is a lot to be impressed about with Harden. His court vision. His willingness to attack the basket. His ability to shoot. What stood out on Friday night, however, was how his basketball intelligence allows him to control a game even when it looks like he is moving at half speed. Harden was in complete control of the game when he was on the field, doing a great job finding his teammates for easy, open looks, while also making sure he kept the defense honest by attacking the basket.
There were plenty of standout moments for Harden on Friday. His first basket was an and-one layup that came from a drive from the baseline. He hit a step back three and made it despite being fouled. He had a beautiful full-court pass to Tyrese Maxey off of a defensive rebound. He drilled a three in the second half with the clock shot running down.
Simply put, Harden is a superstar. He is one of the best players in the league. He is going to be the reason the Sixers make a serious run at the championship.
Joel Embiid: For most of the game Embiid was not his normal, dominant self. In fact, in the first half, Embiid didn't play that well. Then, with the team running away with it in the third quarter, Embiid hit a three to move him up to a quiet 19 points, seven rebounds and three assists with his team holding a very comfortable double-digit lead. Embiid finished with what had to be the easiest 34 points he has ever had in his career.
Life had to feel great for Embiid on Friday, as he still put up great numbers, but didn't have to carry the team on a night where he was off. Embiid has never had a teammate that could carry the team when he was off. Far too often with Simmons on the court if Embiid wasn't at his best, the team had no chance. Now, with Harden, Embiid has somebody else to lean on.
As good as Embiid is, the Sixers were always going to be at their best when he didn't have to be their best player on offense. It is easier to be an elite team when the offense is run through an elite guard. Embiid had to be thrilled with how things went on Friday night, and excited about how much easier his new life on the court is going to be.
Tobias Harris: A key to the Sixers being an elite team that can win in the post season is going to be the willingness of Harden's teammates to shoot quickly when they get open looks. That starts with Tobias Harris.
Friday night was a positive start.
Harris passed the first test, taking a pass from Harden midway through the first quarter and quickly taking (and making) a wide open three. That is exactly what the Sixers want and need Harris to do. Later in the half, however, Harris had another chance at a wide-open three — but this time he pump faked, drove to the lane and kicked it out.
Still, despite a few instances where he passed up an open three, Harris finished the game with six three attempts. That was just one off of his season high of seven, but those seven attempts game in a game where he played 37 minutes, as opposed to the 29 he played on Friday night.
Harris will need to make a higher percentage (he shot just 33%), but the coaches should be encourage by what they saw in Harris first game with Harden.
Tyrese Maxey: A big beneficiary of the Harden trade is going to be Maxey. The second-year player has gone from carrying the weight of being the point guard and the primary option on the perimeter to what he is much more suited to be at this point in his career — a guard that can focus on attacking. Maxey attacked the basket relentlessly on Friday night, finishing with 28 points and hitting a few key shots at the end of the shot clock. Maxey seems set to have a big second half of the season in his role as an attacking shooting guard.
Free Throws: The joke going into Harden and Embiid's first game together was that it was going to be a long night for the free throw line.
That joke proved to be very, very true.
The Sixers lived at the free throw line on Friday night, attempting 16 in the first quarter alone, and finishing with 36 attempts. As expected it was Embiid and Harden that leads the way, finishing with a combined 22, hitting 19.
There is certainly some irony in the fact that the Sixers without Ben Simmons, who can't hit free throws, have become a team that lives and thrives at the free throw line. But while it might lead to longer games, it is definitely a positive for this team. The Sixers ability to get to the line pretty much whenever they want is huge, not only to help carry the offense, but it helps calm things down when/if the opposing team starts to make a run. It is also a much more reliable shot. The Sixers have gone from a team that avoided the line to one that can count on it when they need it. That is going to be huge in the playoffs.
You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com
