'I've got to be careful to keep Harden in offense mode rather than passing mode because he often moves himself to the latter.
Averaging 11.0 assists per game, but only 11.5 shots, he hit two three-pointers in total, which is Harden's two games before today's game against the Lone Ranger, and it can be seen that even head coach Rivers thinks he is too hidden from his offensive edge.
After all, this is a triple scorer, and has cut down 60+ super scorers many times, even though Harden's passing ability is also the top of the league, but in the game where the number of points is the winning criterion, everyone understands where his true value is, so Harden began to gradually adjust himself and did a "simulation experiment" on the Dallas people who came from afar.
Coincidentally, the Lone Rangers just beat an opponent at home to the Brooklyn Nets yesterday, and Harden was indirectly criticized when Durant scored 53 points and nine assists to sensationalize New York, and when Irving slashed 50 points and 60 points to sweep the league.
The outside world believes that Harden has delayed the development of the team, and the latter's recent tepid personal performance seems to have become strong evidence, but Harden today hit back with a 111-101 victory, he is still the "bearded player" who scores like a probe, his way of winning is different from Durant and Irving's simple and rough, but more suitable for his current self.
1. Revitalize teammates with defense and organization
Before today's game, Embiid was listed as a doubt because of back pain, but he finally insisted on playing, Harden, who was originally expected to switch to the scoring mode, did not arrive as expected, the Lone Ranger opened with a 7-0 lead, but Dengo was still calm, he received the ball at the top of the arc, broke through to attract multiple people, and then assisted Sable, who was released, to break the scoring drought.
In the first half of the score continued to fall behind, Harden began to cooperate with Embiid, his breakthrough can always disrupt the lone ranger's defensive layout, Embiid thus got a lot of opportunities to eat easily, and by the end of the half, the 76ers have unconsciously completed the counterattack, Harden's data at this time is 11 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal and 1 block.
In addition to continuously assisting teammates, Harden is also very surprising in defense, facing Doncic, who is also a heavy guard, Harden actually defended water, the latter shot 5 of 20 in the whole game, 2 of 10 three-pointers, and also sent 6 mistakes, it is not an exaggeration to say that Doncic in front of Harden is like "the descendants have seen the ancestors", no matter how crazy you can not turn over the five finger mountain.
Based on Harden's behind-the-scenes work, the emperor and a group of role players have completely entered the state, so Harden is no longer hiding in the clumsy, he finally revealed his sharp fangs, so that the lone ranger in the predicament felt desperate.
2. Score 10 points in a row at a critical moment to kill the game in advance
By the end of the third quarter, the 76ers were nearly double-digit ahead, but that didn't mean they were safe to win, and after helping Jordan Jr. dunk with a back-of-the-head pass, Harden became the Rockets' scoring champion without warning.
In the fourth quarter, he first broke through the emergency stop mid-range shooting to score, and then retreated behind the arc to make a three-point shot, and as his confidence rose, Harden then retreated again to score 10 consecutive three-point shots, and the 76ers' lead has reached nearly 20 points.
To be honest, these goals are really a bit tearful, because Harden at his peak is back, although his scoring means are not much, it is still the three axes of retreat, breakthrough throwing and free throwing, but his decisiveness and confidence in shooting make people feel the courage of being an MVP star, which is almost invisible in the Nets period.
After Harden completed this wave of performances, the Lone Ranger was basically sentenced to death, and Doncic, as the leader of the team, was still sitting off the court waiting to enter the decisive moment, and he did not expect to lose this necessity long ago.
3. More and more calm ability to handle the ball
"Regarding Harden's passing, I would say that everyone knew he would pass the ball before, but I didn't expect his passing level to be so high."
Harden as a player who has won the assist king, the level of passing has not needed too much praise, And when Coach Rivers said this comment, he actually wanted to express that Harden's ability to control mistakes has been improved, not just limited to the number of assists.
Up to now, Harden's average turnover is still as high as 4.5 times, is the league's mistake king, you know, even Westbrook's mistakes are commonplace people have begun to be careful, harden with the goal of winning the championship naturally has to reduce the time to make mistakes, so we can see that after he came to the 76ers, the number of mistakes in a single game has never exceeded 4, far lower than the season average.
And this game, Harden went further, there were only 2 personal mistakes, the assist-to-turnover ratio reached a staggering 6.0, almost every pass was carefully and quickly thought about, compared to Paul, not to mention more, if Harden can improve his ability to handle the ball according to this standard, then the 76ers' strength ceiling will be increased by more than one notch.
"I'm going to make the right decisions, and I'm one of the best decision-makers in the league when it comes to scoring and passing." Like Harden himself said, how to balance the pass and score, he is the most vocal person, when he can reasonably distribute physical fitness, use the pass to activate teammates and systems, and take responsibility at key moments, even if he does not get 60 points?