I have to admit that after joining the 76ers, Harden's performance has obviously improved a lot. In the past 13 games, Harden has 10 games to score 20 points, the scoring efficiency is significantly improved, but also close to the average triple-double data per game, the performance is very comprehensive. Harden was able to play such a performance, and Rivers can be said to be indispensable. Although many people complain that Rivers is a chicken soup coach, he will only feed chicken soup and is easy to be reversed. But in fact, lao Li is still a bit of a material, maybe the on-site response is not good, but the usual tactics are still clearly arranged. Especially after Harden's arrival, Rivers completely excited Harden, allowing him and Embiid to have a good chemistry.
Among them, Rivers's tactics have the shadow of D'Antoni, and he obviously steals the coach. Harden was able to win three scoring championships with the Rockets, setting a series of scoring records, and D'Antoni can be said to be indispensable. If you say that the coach who knows Harden the most is D'Antoni, it is none other than D'Antoni. During the Rockets period, D'Antoni designed a series of tactics for Harden, taking Harden's scoring and passing characteristics to the extreme. One of the most classic is Harden's blocking and demolition tactics, he likes to fight with the inside line, a simple blocking and demolition, there can be many opportunities, and now the blocking and dismantling is replaced by Embiid, which is more effective.
For example, in the Rockets, D'Antoni will lay out the tactics for Harden in this way. Tucker next to him came over to help Harden block the ball, and Capela held the ball on the three-point line. After the no-ball block, Capela handed the ball to Harden and made a fake block with Harden. Harden received the ball and broke inside, and the defender had to come over to make up for it, so that Capela got a vacant opportunity, and Harden simply passed the ball to help Capela score. If the teammates do not come to supplement Harden, then Harden can choose to shoot three points or accelerate to break through the inside line, anyway, there are more opportunities.
Now after coming to the 76ers, Rivers also arranged such a tactic for Harden, only this time it was replaced by Embiid and Harden to cooperate. Harden received Embiid's pass and quickly broke through the inside line, Towns tried to interfere with Harden, and the inside line became Russell to defend Embiid, and Embiid received Harden's pass and easily scored on the inside. And if the opponent chooses to defend Embiid, then Harden can hit three points. Comparing the two tactics, you will find exactly the same, Rivers can say that he successfully stole D'Antoni, without doing too much, he can directly copy it, and the effect is better.
Because this time with Harden is Embiid, Embiid's scoring ability is naturally incomparable to Capela, and Embiid is more threatening than Capela. So a lot of times, opponents have to defend Embiid, so harden get a lot of opportunities. And this is also a good thing for Embiid, just imagine, if Simmons and Embiid play such a tactic, Embiid will cry, Simmons has no shooting ability at all, Embiid will be very uncomfortable. And now with Harden, the opponent does not dare to easily wrap up, it is no wonder that after knowing that Harden joins, Embiid will be happy to jump.
Rivers was really smart and tough enough. The clever thing is that it will steal d'Antoni, there are so many successful cases, don't learn white, don't learn! And the fierce enough is to dare to use Embiid as Capela, let Embiid help Harden block the demolition, and Embiid is willing to do so. It is precisely because of this that Harden can be completely activated. Rivers has also done what Nash has not been able to do, the Nets have a hard time playing such a tactic, Harden does not have such a treatment at the Nets. Rivers finally understood that Harden could not play without the ball, and let Harden play without the ball, basically useless, it was better to follow the way he was most familiar with. Of course! This is just one of the tactics, and there are many shadows of the previous rocket period. Rivers is more defensive than D'Antoni, so now the 76ers are doing well on both ends of the offensive and defensive lines.