Sixers look to continue momentum with James Harden vs. Knicks

James Harden’s Sixers debut couldn’t have gone significantly better. As Philadelphia rolled previous the Timberwolves for a 133-102 win, Harden racked up 27 factors on simply 12 pictures (he went 5-of-7 from three and 8-of-9 on the free throw line), eight rebounds, and 12 assists to solely two turnovers. The Sixers’ ball motion was buzzing as they tallied 30 assists on 42 baskets, and together with 34 and 10 from Joel Embiid and 28 factors on 12-of-16 capturing from Tyrese Maxey, it was an ideal night time for the Sixers.

Subsequent up on Sunday afternoon, they’re ending their highway journey in opposition to the New York Knicks, who gained’t be fairly at full energy. Kemba Walker has been shut down for the rest of the season, and Derrick Rose is sidelined for the following week or two after present process a minor process on his proper ankle.

It’s been a disappointing season for the Knicks after they completed fourth within the East final season. They’re at present sitting in twelfth place at 25-35. Julius Randle’s scoring effectivity has dropped from all areas of the ground (he’s down from a 56.7 true capturing proportion final season to only 51.3), their offense is missing a lot rhythm and playmaking and ranks simply twenty fifth, and their protection which was integral to their success has fallen from rating fourth final season to seventeenth this yr.

The Knicks have fallen right into a rut over their previous couple of video games as effectively, shedding eight of their final 10, together with their final 4 in opposition to the Blazers, Thunder, Nets and Warmth. The Sixers are catching the Knicks at an excellent time to doubtlessly seize two wins — first on Sunday and after they play once more on Wednesday in Philly.

For the Sixers, the main focus for watching this sport (and the remainder of the common season general) is how Harden continues to function along with his new teammates. Moreover his drives to the rim and step-back threes, Harden’s passing was the spotlight of his debut. He despatched the ball everywhere in the flooring with fast, decisive passes (with the remainder of the workforce usually following alongside), sparked loads of fast-break scores with correct outlet passes, and made a spread of good pick-and-roll reads.

As we proceed reviewing the preliminary takeaways from Harden’s begin with the Sixers, right here are some things to observe in opposition to the Knicks:

• Firstly, Doc Rivers’ rotations. Other than a quick all-bench run when the Sixers had already established an enormous lead, Rivers’ rotations and stagger patterns have been good in Harden’s debut. He primarily constructed his rotation round staggering the duos of Embiid-Maxey and Harden-Harris, which is the proper solution to go. You wish to stagger your finest gamers and have one in all Harden or Embiid to steer the offense always. Then you’ve Embiid supported by Maxey’s ball-handling and some shooters, whereas Harden can lead the offense by himself surrounded by capturing and a little bit of complementary creation from Tobias Harris. Will this proceed in opposition to the Knicks, or will Rivers experiment any in another way?
• Harden’s pick-and-roll partnership with Embiid is the important thing a part of the offense to look at after they share the ground. They acquired off to an excellent begin on Friday, with Harden organising Embiid with well timed pocket passes on quick rolls into the mid-range, and discovering Embiid across the basket on full rolls to the rim as effectively. The Knicks don’t have nice protection on the level of assault both with starters like Alec Burks and Evan Fournier, so this might bode effectively for Sunday’s contest.
• The Knicks are permitting the Tenth-most factors in transition this season. Harden kickstarted quite a lot of quick breaks in opposition to the Timberwolves along with his hit-ahead passes, and Maxey was usually the beneficiary as he flew down court docket forward of defenders. From catching slot cuts on the transfer within the half court docket to quick breaks, Maxey thrived taking part in off Harden along with his pace. Look out for extra comparable performs in New York.
• Harden’s protection was strong in his debut. For probably the most half, he held up effectively on the ball, was fairly alert along with his off-ball rotations, and did his half on the boards. This isn’t the a part of Harden’s match that issues most and everyone knows about his weaknesses on protection, but when he advantages from being extra engaged with the Sixers and might produce any extra defensive efforts like this, it’ll actually assist.
• Will the Sixers get way more off-ball exercise on offense from Harden? His lack of motion and spot-up capturing has been the primary knock on his offensive sport for years, however he had some promising moments on Friday, together with the play beneath the place he relocated into area within the nook so Harris may discover him for a catch-and-shoot three:

It’s unreasonable to count on Harden to abruptly begin operating round off the ball when he by no means has, but it surely’s value keeping track of him when he’s off the ball to see how a lot he’s relocating to seek out area and doubtlessly hit just a few extra spot-up threes. It will go an extended solution to maximizing the offense and spacing round Embiid.

• The 2 important matchups for the Sixers’ protection on Sunday can be dealing with Randle and RJ Barrett. Harris’s protection hasn’t been as sturdy this season, however he has achieved a good job in opposition to Randle prior to now with the scale to compete considerably within the publish and on quick drives. Harris staying bodily inside, supported by well timed assist from Embiid defending the rim, can be key. In the meantime, Matisse Thybulle can use his pace and disruptive arms to steer the Barrett task. Barrett’s play has been a brilliant spot for New York not too long ago, with him upping his manufacturing to common 23.8 factors an evening and shoot 39.1 p.c from three over his final 21 video games.
• With the energy benefit and foul-drawing smarts Embiid has to make use of in opposition to Mitchell Robinson, this ought to be an excellent matchup for the large fella. When Embiid isn’t working in additional pick-and-rolls with Harden whereas they share the ground, he ought to have the ability to discover success inside when counting on extra post-up play.

If the Sixers transfer the ball at an analogous stage to Friday, Embiid retains dominating, Harden retains firing crisp passes out of pick-and-rolls, and Rivers’ efficient staggering of his stars continues, this ought to be one other enjoyable sport.

Recreation Data

Who: Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks
When: 1:00 pm ET, Feb. 27, 2022
The place: Madison Sq. Backyard, New York, NY
Watch: ABC
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Observe: @Liberty_Ballers