On March 3, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continued, with 76ers playing against the Knicks at home. It was the second time the two teams had played each other in less than four days and was also harden's home debut since joining the 76ers. With the 76ers trailing the Knicks by 16 points in the first half, Harden and Embiid led the team to complete the reversal in the third quarter, netting 19 points. In the end, the 76ers defeated the Knicks 13-108 at home, ushering in a four-game winning streak and giving their opponents six consecutive defeats.
The 76ers successfully won the game at home, and the team's primary contributor was Harden. Harden made 8 of 13 and 8-of-10 from the free throw line contributing 26 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. He scored 13 points in the second quarter, stabilizing the situation as the Knicks tried to pull the deficit back into double digits. In the third quarter of the game, he blew the team's counterattack horn and completed the score reversal for the team. In the second half, he delivered six assists to set the team up for the win.
Harden has undoubtedly become Philadelphia's new favorite, and the fans erupted in thunderous cheers and applause for him, allowing him to have a home. His excellent performances will help the team enter the championship race. The combination of Harden and Embiid is worth looking forward to, and he is also a reliable second boss around Embiid.
How good Harden is, how awkward it is to have one character on the team, and that is Tobias Harris, who is arguably the team's biggest victim in this deal. After Simmons and Philadelphia fell out, Har lisbon should naturally become the team's number two person. However, Harris did not play the performance he had imagined. In the face of increased possessions, he averaged 18.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game this season, compared with 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists last season. This is also a big reason why Embiid was previously isolated on the pitch.
Harden's arrival has made Harris even more statusless in the team. He has averaged just 10.7 points in his last three games and only 5-of-18 in his first two games, and has not played well on the pitch. He even had a vacant spot in the first two games and did not dare to shoot, and he was very timid on the field. Although Harris's form has warmed up in this game, his consecutive scores in the final quarter have contributed to the team's reversal. But this has never been able to hide the fact that his status in the team has declined.
What makes Harris even more uncomfortable is that after Harden's arrival, the team's third person is not him, but the team's second-year rising star Maxi. Maxi has played well in the three games hardened, averaging 24.7 points per game and has gradually become the team's third-largest. Fans even jokingly call Embiid, Harden and Maxi the "Big Maha" combination, and it is clear that they are the backbone of the team. Harris is already a supporting player on the team.
To know that Harris signed a 5-year, 180 million contract with Philadelphia, and an annual salary of up to 36 million this season, this is definitely the salary value of a superstar. But from the current situation of the team, Harris has slowly lost his status as a team, and he may not be far from the team. According to relevant news reports, several anonymous executives believe harris will be sent away by the team this summer. If Harris doesn't get a taste of the championship this year, he's doomed to fall prey to harden trades.
(Text/Yuwen Basketball)