Who is the team's star? In fact, it depends on the strength of the individual and the influence on the game, which will determine whether he will be recognized by the fans. The Cavaliers team led by "Jano" in the past, there is no doubt that James is the absolute superstar, and his presence has made the team move from the edge of the playoffs to the big stage of the Finals. The core figure of the Warriors is definitely Curry, and in games without Curry, the team's offense has dropped more than one notch. This is the meaning of being a star, his presence makes the team's attack unstoppable, and even makes the team's temperament change.
So for the 76ers, is Harden the star or Embiid? We all know that Harden was the league's former MVP and scoring champion, and such strength is an absolute superstar on any team. But as the world changes, everything is changing, and anything that is strong will slowly fall. Since leaving the Rockets, Harden has not played well with the Nets, and he has also suffered a major injury in his history , a second-degree thigh strain, which has greatly reduced his immediate combat power.
It can be seen from the data that Harden's offense has lost its courage in the past, and its performance is not stable. Both the regular-season scoring and the playoff offense are no longer the familiar bearded men of the year: He averaged 22 points per game in the regular season this season, compared to 34.3 points two years ago; in the 12 playoff games since leaving the Rockets, he has scored more than 30 points in only one of the 12 playoff games. Whether it is the regular season or the playoffs, Harden's offensive decline is already an indisputable fact, which is positively related to his decline in explosive power.
After the 76ers temporarily lost Embiid, the team was at a disadvantage in the semi-finals and the Heat, with G1 and G2 scoring 92 points and 103 points respectively, and the offense was obviously contained by the opponent's defense. But when Embiid returned, G3 and G4 scored 99 points and 116 points respectively, leaving the Heat with only 79 and 108 points, which is Embiid's huge influence. At this point, the big score of the Eastern Conference semifinals changed from 0-2 to 2-2, and the two teams of the 76ers and the Heat were on the same starting line from the new.
In terms of results, Embiid is undoubtedly the core of the team, and Harden is more like a second boss of a supporting role. Embiid's presence, on the offensive end, can attract the opponent's bag and create offensive opportunities for teammates, and can also pull Adebayor to the three-point line and empty the bottom of the basket for Harden, which is conducive to the ball carrier attacking the basket. The defensive end can withstand Adebayor's offense with strength and height, and can also provide the team's needed basket protection ability, reducing the Heat's threat to the basket.
And Harden? Because there is no enough explosive force, Harden can not get rid of the defender's defense at once, coupled with the "retreat step three-point shot" is not flexible, which makes Harden's breakthrough unable to tear apart the opponent's defense, so there is no way to drive the teammate's attack as usual. However, because his ability to read the game and predict when defending is still there, as long as Embiid is on the field, Harden can more easily pass the ball to him, and his breakthrough can become easier.
But if you want to return to the offensive level of the past, Harden may be difficult to do, after all, the impact of that second-degree strain has lingered. The instability of the offensive end makes Harden's offense no longer brave; but his control and reading of the game over the years are alive, and he can still play an excellent second boss at the moment, helping Embiid score in a more relaxed way, and using this to amplify the team's overall scoring ability, which is Harden's irreplaceable ability in the team.
Maybe we will not be reconciled, Harden is super giant, fully able to fight for everything he wants. But for the sake of the big picture, for the team to go further, Harden may be more suitable to be a second boss at the moment. After all, the former Curry was able to sacrifice his personal data for the Warriors Dynasty, so why can't Harden?