Daily News | Without Joel Embiid, the Sixers offense will turn to James Harden for points
Even when they were decimated by a COVID-19 outbreak and injuries, the Sixers had one message: “For us, it’s the next man up mentality and being locked in on the game plan.”The Eastern Conference’s fourth-seeded Sixers face the top-seeded Miami Heat in the second round of the playoffs. Game 1 of the best-of-seven series is set for 7:30 p.m. Monday at the FTX Arena.
But Harden has appeared a step slow while overcoming a left hamstring strain this season And he’s shooting career lows of 41.0% from the field and 33.0% on three-pointers in 65 combined games this season with the Brooklyn Nets and Sixers.The Sixers were in a bind with Joel Embiid. His injury makes their trajectory more unclear than ever
Prior to his injury, the Sixers centered their offense around Embiid. They spent the past couple days working on ways to highlight Harden’s strengths. “Be more aggressive,” Harden said of what a James-dominant offense looks like. “That’s what I’ve been doing [in the past]. I’ve been comfortable and used to that role for a long time.
“They’re going to try to bump them and all of that fake tough stuff,” Rivers said. “I always laugh at all that toughness stuff. You’re on a basketball court. … if you know what I mean.Sixers coach Doc Rivers defends decision to have Joel Embiid in late during a blowout “Everything they do, they got to work for it,” Harden said. “They got to go through our bodies. Easy post up in transition, mishaps whatever that may be, open shots for their shooters. If we can limit those and take away those things as much as possible, we got a really good chance.”
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