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MINNEAPOLIS — Make no mistake, Friday was James Harden Day. Not less than that’s the best way the 76ers approached it.
At 9:26 a.m., Dave Sholler, the Sixers’ govt vp of communications, tweeted out a gif of Harden and the words, “Morning! Have an incredible day at this time, of us. See you tonight at 8 p.m. ET on @NBCSPhilly!”
A few hours later, the workforce tweeted out an autographed picture of Harden with a quote from him on it. It learn: “It’s go time!”
Friday morning, earlier than their recreation in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Sixers additionally had their largest media contingent of the season at a street shootaround.
It was all as a result of Friday was the day Sixers followers have been ready for because the Feb. 10 commerce deadline. The Harden period kicked off Friday evening with a 133-102 Sixers win over the Timberwolves on the Goal Heart. The curtain opener got here 15 days after the perennial All-NBA choice was acquired along with Paul Millsap from the Brooklyn Nets in change for Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, and two first-round picks.
Harden completed with 27 factors, a game-high 12 assists, and eight rebounds. He shot 7-for-12 — 5-of-7 from three-point vary — whereas making 8 of 9 foul pictures. Not a nasty stat line, contemplating this was his first recreation since Feb. 2.
“For me, I haven’t been on the courtroom for therefore lengthy,” mentioned Harden, who was sidelined with a left hamstring pressure. “My physique feels nice personally, and simply to be round these guys, who all have the identical frequent objective, teaching employees and simply prime to backside, successful.”
Harden mentioned Friday was a traditional recreation day for him.
“I attempted to be the perfect participant on the courtroom,” he mentioned.
He undoubtedly was that.
Harden’s first shot try, made basket, and three-point play as a Sixer all got here 3 minutes, 17 seconds into the sport. He drove the lane and scored whereas being fouled by Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards. Harden made the foul shot to provide the Sixers a 10-6 cushion. He missed a three-pointer on the following possession.
He had six factors, making 1 of two pictures, to go together with one help and a rebound earlier than getting extra concerned within the second quarter. That’s when he scored 12 factors on 3-for-4 — together with making each three-point makes an attempt — and changing 4 of 5 foul pictures. Harden additionally collected 4 assists and two rebounds whereas enjoying 9:16 of the quarter.
His spotlight was a step-back three-pointer whereas being fouled with 56.3 seconds left within the half. He made the foul shot to provide the Sixers a 63-49 cushion.
Harden completed with 10 factors within the second quarter earlier than leaving with 4:25 to play.
He ended up with 4 step-back three-pointers, two of then ending in four-point performs. He scored his first basket whereas being fouled and made the foul shot 3 times in opposition to the Timberwolves (32-28).
“I lived by them,” Doc Rivers mentioned of teaching in opposition to Harden and his step-back threes prior to now. “I’ve seen them firsthand. One of many coaches, it may need been Jamie Younger mentioned, “Geesh, it’s a lot nicer to see it on the opposite facet of the fence. However I assumed he picked and selected. We ran loads of pick-and-roll, two-man stuff, after which once we obtained the proper swap, he went to that.
“We have a look at that the identical manner we have a look at a put up up for Joel.”
Rivers feels when Joel Embiid has the ball within the put up, it’s an isolation play. When Harden has the proper defender in the proper spot, it’s additionally an isolation play.
“So we like them each,” Rivers mentioned.
Embiid completed with recreation highs of 34 factors and 10 rebounds, whereas Tyrese Maxey added 28 factors
Friday gave an preliminary glimpse at how the Harden-and-Embiid All-Star pairing will work, and the way far more aggressive the Sixers are with the 2018 MVP and three-time scoring champion. And it allow us to see firsthand why the Sixers have been so prepared to surrender so much for the 32-year-old.
“I’m simply enthusiastic about everyone simply getting on the courtroom,” Embiid mentioned earlier than shootaround, “Making an attempt to determine one of the best ways so as to add to all enjoying collectively. So we are able to go on and attempt to win each single recreation and finally get to the Finals.”
» READ MORE: Who has the better step-back move? James Harden? Joel Embiid? The Sixers center weighs in.
The Sixers have 23 regular-season contests remaining. They’re third within the Jap Convention with a 36-23 document and a couple of ½ video games behind the Chicago Bulls and Miami Warmth, who’re tied for first..
The Sixers will full their two-game street journey on the New York Knicks on Sunday at 1 p.m. earlier than dealing with the Knicks once more in Harden’s dwelling debut on Wednesday.
Time isn’t on the Sixers’ facet with regards to incorporating a participant of Harden’s caliber into the combo. The Bulls, Warmth, fourth-place Milwaukee Bucks, fifth-place Cleveland Cavaliers, and sixth-place Boston Celtics have all had their core items intact since no less than coaching camp.
Conscious of Harden’s elite expertise, Embiid is way from involved. He has one other gifted man to assist determine learn how to make issues mesh. He additionally thinks he and Harden, two elite scorers, can coexist.
“It’s not going to be laborious,” Embiid mentioned. “We’re not speaking about, you already know, non-shooters or guys which might be restricted offensively. We’re speaking about James Harden. You see what he did in Houston when he was scoring the ball after which going to Brooklyn with different excessive expertise offensively. He grew to become a manner higher playmaker, averaging 10 assists.
“So it’s not going to be laborious in any respect. I believe it’s going to assist the entire workforce in that function. So I’m excited.”
» READ MORE: The James Harden trade: As it happened
However the Sixers should develop consistency. They’ve six weeks left to separate up lineups and determine the proper combos. The addition of Harden permits the Sixers to have no less than two starters on the ground more often than not.
On Friday, the Sixers had a beginning lineup of Matisse Thybulle, Tobias Harris, Embiid, Maxey, and Harden.
Harden and Harris have been subbed out on the 5:03 mark of the primary quarter. They have been changed by Furkan Korkmaz and Georges Niang. Moments later, Danny Inexperienced got here in to exchange Thybulle. Inexperienced, Korkmaz, and Niang have been paired with starters Embiid and Thybulle.
Then Harden got here again in for Maxey with 1:56 left within the quarter. At the moment, Paul Millsap subbed in for Embiid. Forty-four seconds later, Harris got here again in for Niang. Then Harden went again to the bench for the ultimate 10 seconds of the quarter. He was changed by Thybulle.
The Sixers opened the second quarter with Harden, Inexperienced, Harris, Millsap, and Shake Milton. Rivers stored up an analogous rotation sample till going to an all-bench lineup of Milton, Inexperienced, Korkmaz, Millsap, and Niang together with his workforce up 26 factors with 2:24 left within the third. The Sixers introduced Harris again in for Niang with 54.2 seconds remaining within the quarter.
For essentially the most half, Embiid was paired with Maxey whereas Harden and Harris have been paired collectively.
Embiid doesn’t assume it’ll take lengthy to determine rotations, both. He famous Harden is a good participant and really good. That’s mixture that he expects to mesh properly with the gamers on the roster.
“On the finish of the day, it begins on the prime,” Embiid mentioned. “We obtained to need it. I obtained to need it. He’s obtained to need it, and the opposite guys are going to observe. However I believe it’s going to be easy, and we’re simply going to get going.”
Friday was the Sixers’ first time seeing what Harden brings in recreation motion.
We’ll study extra about him throughout subsequent Friday and Saturday’s home-and-away back-to-back in opposition to the Cavs and Warmth adopted by dwelling video games in opposition to the Bulls (March 7) and Nets (March 10). They’ll have a key street recreation in opposition to the Cavs on March 16. Then a few video games later, the Sixers could have one other defining dwelling back-to-back in opposition to the Toronto Raptors (March 20) and Warmth (March 21) earlier than embarking on a three-game street journey in opposition to the Los Angeles Lakers (March 23), Clippers (March 25), and Phoenix Suns (March 27). After a day without work, they’ll host the Bucks.
9 of their 16 video games in March are in opposition to groups that have been within the prime six of their respective conferences going into Friday’s video games. 4 different video games are in opposition to squads that might compete within the play-in match if the season concluded Thursday.
“I’m really excited as a result of our schedule is getting extraordinarily robust,” Embiid mentioned. “[March] goes to be extraordinarily robust. So you already know we’re actually going to be examined. We’re going to see the place we’re at.
“So I’m excited to get going, to play some robust playoff groups, simply to attempt to get higher, win or lose.”
Maybe, however Friday was James Harden Day, a day the Sixers want to construct on.
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