How Will James Harden Fit With the Sixers Roster?

The Sixers gained their first recreation because the James Harden commerce, though he didn’t step on the ground on Friday evening.  They’ll host Cleveland on Saturday, additionally with out the providers of their newly acquired famous person.

Nevertheless, you possibly can anticipate to see ‘The Beard’ quickly.  The group is hopeful that Harden might be able to play after they host the Boston Celtics on Tuesday evening (hear on 97.3 ESPN).

Whereas the Sixers gained their first recreation with out Harden, he is a big piece to the puzzle if the Sixers have any hopes to successful their first NBA title since 1983.

Whereas it make take a while to determine how you can substitute these items, right here’s what I do know. James Harden is by far the most effective scoring guard the Sixers have ever had within the Joel Embiid period and perhaps ever.

“It may probably be the potent offensive drive within the league,” said ESPN’s Tim Legler as a guest of the Sports Bash on Friday.  “It definitely is on paper. No person has that form of mixture. A man that dominate on the perimeter and a man that dominate as an enormous and each can rating on each platform.”

Legler defined how each Embiid and Harden can rating from each spot on the ground.  They’ll shoot the three. Take the ball to the basket, rating within the paint, get to the road and hit the mid-range jumper.

“No person has that mixture within the league,” Legler added.

Legler admits there might be some rising pains early, with each gamers having an alpha mentality, wanting to attain the basketball.

“Previous to the commerce they weren’t ok,” defined Legler. “They weren’t ok with Ben Simmons they usually weren’t ok this 12 months, as a result of they did not substitute Ben Simmons with something.”

As nice as Harden is, it is going to be fascinating see how the Sixers substitute the items that have been despatched packing with Ben Simmons, Seth Curry and Andre Drummond.  Whereas shedding Curry and Drummond is a priority, Legler defined that Harden will make the remaining participant, higher participant.

“While you take a look at the gamers that Harden performed with in Houston, he made these guys develop into family names as shooters that have been actually mediocre at finest shooters.”

Legler defined how Harden provides gamers an additional rely, further time to take the shot.

“In case you’re a median shooter or a under common shooter, nothing issues extra to you than time,” defined Legler, who was one of many prime 3-point shooters within the NBA, successful the NBA Three-Level Contest in 1986 and ranks fifth on the all-time record, connecting on 43% of his triples.

“Each little bit of additional time makes you a greater shooter,” Legler said. “You may get balanced, you are not rushed, you possibly can focus extra or ending the shot and he did that for a bunch of fellows in Houston.”

So whereas Legler admits he does not just like the depth of shooters the Sixers have, he argues that they’ll now get a number of the finest appears to be like they’ve ever had, making them a greater shooter than they’ve been previously.

What about Harden’s match with Tyrese Maxey, who has been operating the offense and has develop into an excellent scoring choice as his recreation continues to evolve. ‘

“No person on this state of affairs might be affected greater than negativity Maxey,” Legler stated. “I hate to say that as a result of he has emerged a lot this season. Now there’s simply no different means round it, he is simply not going to have the ball as a lot. He’s going to have to determine how you can be efficient with out the ball.”

A method Legler say they’ll attempt to assist, if staggering the minutes of Maxey and Harden.  He means that on a championship group, that Maxey might be a combo guard that comes off-the-bench, in a Lou Williams kind of position.

“You may’t escape the very fact the ball will not be in his arms almost as a lot,” Legler stated. “Im frightened about his growth for positive and I am curious to see what they do with him.”

So ultimately, how does Legler see the east?

“I put Philly No. 1. I put Milwaukee, two. Brooklyn, three and Miami No. 4.”

We must always get our first take a look at who Harden matches on Tuesday evening.