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“James Harden modified my life,” Daryl Morey wrote in a thanks letter after leaving Houston. “A whole web page may very well be devoted to James. He not solely remodeled my life however he additionally revolutionized the sport of basketball—and continues to take action—like virtually nobody has earlier than.”
A few weeks later, Morey signed a five-year take care of the Sixers, regardless of asserting ‘a break from basketball‘ after he had stepped down as Houston GM. The transfer may’ve been the most important blow to the Rockets fandom — however passing up Philadelphia wasn’t an possibility for Morey. Thirty-six video games into the season, it’s clear why.
The Sixers (24-12) have one of the best document within the East, and after a disappointing first-round exit within the Bubble final summer time, they lastly appear like an actual contender. A whole lot of the credit score for it needs to be given to Morey, whose roster tweaks have labored out brilliantly, permitting stars to all have breakout seasons in a Sixers uniform — particularly Joel Embiid.
The 26-year-old famous person is presently a number one MVP candidate, averaging a career-best 30.2 factors, together with 11.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.4 blocks, whereas taking pictures career-highs from the sector (52.1%) and the three-point line (41.6%). Morey principally credit Doc Rivers for Embiid’s enchancment, praising the Sixers massive man on the expense of the man who ‘modified his life.’
I get in bother once I say stuff like this, however he’s essentially the most unstoppable factor I’ve ever seen. And I’ve seen loads — you already know who I’ve seen. However I’ve by no means seen something prefer it.
Daryl Morey, Sports Illustrated
Only a reminder — Morey as soon as mentioned, ‘it’s factual that James Harden is a greater scorer than Michael Jordan.’ He additionally described him as ‘among the finest offensive gamers of all time.’ It took Daryl only a quarter of the season to backtrack on his reward for the previous Rockets famous person. And one of the best half is, for the primary time ever, he didn’t base his case on analytics.
When he mentioned Harden was a greater scorer than Jordan, Morey introduced some numbers to again it up. When he known as him among the finest offensive gamers ever, Morey described the measurements he used that acquired him to that conclusion. However when he known as Embiid essentially the most unstoppable factor he’s ever seen, Morey stopped it at that.
Mr. Analytics introduced an argument based mostly on the attention take a look at. To me, at the very least, that solely means one factor — the Embiid reward is only a entrance for a shot at Harden.
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