Philadelphia Hype for James Harden’s Home 76ers Debut – NBC10 Philadelphia

James Harden wrapped a resistance band round his higher torso and took off. He sprinted the size of the basketball court docket and repeated the drill designed to construct power and endurance.

With the 76ers in championship-or-bust mode, Harden wants each traits if he needs to hold the workforce into June.

However parade speak can wait: Philly is in a tizzy over Harden’s impending house debut. Nearly three weeks since he was acquired in a commerce, two street video games, billboards welcoming his arrival, and a spawning cottage business of “Beard” T-shirts later, Harden will lastly play in Philly for the Sixers on Wednesday evening in opposition to the New York Knicks.

Very like the beard that’s as synonymous with Harden as his skillful scoring, anticipation is rising.

So are ticket costs.

A budget seats begin at $100 on the secondary market and the Wells Fargo Middle will certainly have a playoff really feel for what would have been an in any other case routine weeknight recreation with out Harden.

“It’s going to be turnt in there,” Harden mentioned over the weekend, “and I’m prepared for it.”

Harden was the final Sixer off the court docket after Tuesday’s observe, sharing laughs with All-Star middle Joel Embiid and jamming to music throughout capturing drills with assistant coach Sam Cassell.

“The town’s excited. We’re excited,” coach Doc Rivers mentioned.

With good cause.

Harden, the 2018 NBA MVP, in his brief pattern measurement has impressed as anticipated. He had 27 factors, 12 assists and eight rebounds in his debut in opposition to Minnesota and adopted with 29 factors, 16 assists and 10 rebounds in opposition to the Knicks. The quantity that issues most: 2-0. The difficulty that issues most: Philly is freed from the Ben Simmons saga that weighed on the franchise till the All-Stars have been traded for one another.

“This isn’t a forced-together workforce. This can be a want-to-be-together workforce,” Rivers mentioned. “We get to be collectively and we need to be collectively. I believe that’s an excellent factor.”

Tobias Harris’ manufacturing dipped in these two video games — he went 5 of 18 mixed after taking 20 photographs within the 76ers’ final recreation with out Harden. Tyrese Maxey, in the meantime, has benefited probably the most from Harden’s arrival. He went 12 of 16 in opposition to the Timberwolves thanks largely to fastbreak factors instigated by Harden and catch-and-shoot 3s in opposition to the Knicks off Harden kick-outs. Embiid, Harden and Maxey mixed for 176 factors of their first two video games collectively, probably the most for any debuting trio within the NBA since 1961.

“It’s enjoyable,” Harris mentioned. “We’re going into full arenas. The hype is there for our group, our workforce. That at all times brings pleasure to it. What’s to not like about it?”

Harden appears recovered from the left hamstring situation that sidelined him his remaining video games in Brooklyn and his first video games in Philadelphia (37-23, third within the Jap Convention).

Teamed with Embiid, already an MVP frontrunner, they could be probably the most punishing duo within the NBA. Harden, who joked over the weekend he was nonetheless “winging it” on offense, is getting his teammates concerned whereas nonetheless having the ball in his fingers sufficient to dominate. The true-time game-time could sluggish with Harden’s arrival: Embiid and Harden are first and third within the NBA in common free-throw makes an attempt. Embiid made a profession and NBA season-high 23 free throws in opposition to the Knicks.

The 76ers can solely hope a parade of free throws may also help them get to planning an actual one for the primary time since 1983.

However they have been the No. 1 seed within the East final season and residential court docket didn’t assist them. Possibly Harden will.

Embiid, scoring 29.8 factors per recreation and averaging 11.1 rebounds, says one of the best instances with Harden are forward.

“What are you actually going to do? He’s an important passer and, clearly, (I’m) somebody that draws a number of consideration, too,” Embiid mentioned. “You’ve acquired to decide. Do you keep on me or do you keep on him?”

Choices, choices.