On March 16, Beijing time, the US media switchpoints reported on the expectations of 76ers coach Rivers for James Harden, who hoped that Beard could play more aggressively, rather than always considering being a passer and organizing attacks for teammates.
Harden has underperformed in recent games, dropping his average of 21.3 points per game in March, shooting 38.8 percent from the field and 32.4 percent from three-point range. Beard's first three games with the 76ers were very good, with 27 points, eight rebounds and 12 assists in the first game against the Timberwolves, 29 points, 10 rebounds and 16 assists in the second game against the Knicks, and 26 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists in the third game against the Knicks.
However, in the subsequent games, Harden's joining effect seems to disappear. "Yesterday, I thought he was playing more like a passer and I told him I never liked that. I wish he was more aggressive early in the game. He's good at both ability and intuition, knows where to pass the ball and I think in the fourth quarter he became more aggressive. I prefer the offensive James (Harden) to point guard because he's going to be a point guard anyway. Rivers said.
That's what Rivers expects from Harden, and he hopes Harden can free his hands and feet on offense at the 76ers without tying up his offensive firepower.
Since joining the 76ers, Harden has not scored 30 points in a game, which is obviously not the level Harden should be. Harden averaged 30+ points per game for three consecutive seasons from 2017-18 to 2019-20, and was crowned the leading scorer. Among them, in the 2018-19 season, Harbin scored an average of 36.1 points. However, after leaving the Rockets, Harden suppressed his offensive desires, not at the Nets, and so on the 76ers.
Harden has played eight games for the 76ers, averaging 23.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 10.5 assists per game. That kind of statistic is good for other players, but it makes Rivers feel bad enough on Harden.
The 76ers do need Harden to improve their offensive firepower now. Embiid was under pressure on the offensive end, with Tobias Hassans slumped in form for the season, averaging just 15.0 points per game in March and scoring 20+ points on one occasion.
Maxi scored 20+ in each of the first four games Harden joined. At the time, embiid, Harden and Maxi were described as the new version of the Big Three, but In the next five games, Maxy did not score 20 points. In the 76ers, Harden's current role is the second boss, and Embiid is the boss. Embiid has done enough, good enough, Rivers can only ask more of Harden, and objectively speaking, Harden does need to play more aggressively.