Philadelphia lost to the Bulls in double overtime today, ending an eight-game winning streak.
Embiid still scored 37 points, 30+ in the tenth consecutive game, but unfortunately was sent off at the end; Harden played the worst game of his Philadelphia career: 5 of 14 shots.
So is Harden to blame? Nor is it.
Coach Rivers explained after the game that Harden had a foot injury and did not attend the post-game press conference to go for a check-up.
Harden scored only 5 points on 14 shots today, although it was a foot injury, but there was also the reason for the Bulls defense: Caruso didn't play today, but LaVine, who just prided himself on being a good defender the other day, performed well today.
Of course, he wasn't the only one defending Harden.
The Bulls' strategy today is to stick close to the pressure handlers. Harden wants to shoot three points and is interfered with by the upper step; Holding the ball to break through, the Bulls will delay on the periphery, limiting Harden's breakthrough line; Wait until you force him to the prescribed position, go up to make up for it.
He even went on a joint defense, waiting for Harden to come to the basket and enter the trap.
There was even a five-man siege of Harden, and Vucevic let go of Embiid on the line - last year's scoring king, this year's scoring king Embiid! Be emptied!
Of course, it is not really empty, and the Bulls' way of playing today is to round up the ball carrier. Embiid catches the ball, and the Bulls still gather in groups of three or five, not letting Embiid shoot comfortably. Today, Embiid, a seven-foot melon, rarely scored only one goal outside the box - 37 points, almost all from the box and free throws.
Can't stop Embiid from scoring, but can control Harden, who has an injured foot — and, control the offense of the entire Philadelphia team? Gives Philadelphia a double overtime of just 105 points?
Why is Harden clearly not in good form and targeted by the Bulls defense, and Coach Rivers used him 46 minutes?
It also cuts to the point in Philadelphia.
Harden broke through today, but still had 12 assists. He averaged 10.9 assists per game this season, still leading the league.
In fact, Harden averaged 28 points per game to his teammates and led the league.
But at the same time, Philadelphia averages six or 43 potential assists per game.
After a pass, even a shot/foul/miss is a potential assist.
That is, Philadelphia made 43 chances per game, 25 of which cashed in as assists; Harden passed 18 of 43 times, cashing in with 11 assists.
There are not many manufacturing opportunities, but the quality of opportunities is high and the opportunities are well grasped.
The Philadelphia 76ers are leading in the league in catch-and-field shooting — shooting 41 percent from the field, 40 percent from three-point range and 60 percent effective from the field.
The finishing ability is one and the same.
After all, when it comes to open spot baskets, Harden, Maxi, Embiid, Harris, Melton, Tucker, Milton, and Niang can all shoot.
- those who can't vote, like Seibre, like Simmons, are also gone ...
But while finishing ability, Philadelphia still relies too much on Harden and Embiid in terms of passing creativity.
In fact, Philadelphia is averaging 25 assists per game this season, 15 times from Harden + Embiid.
There is another detail here.
Harden averaged nearly 11 assists per game, but in terms of breakthrough ability, he is no longer the self he was in 2018.
He averaged 11 assists per game, and for the most part, it was not his burst points, but his vision and rhythm.
For example, today, his first assist is to feed Embiid, after a round, he feeds Embiid, waits for Embiid to attract a pinch shot, receives a return pass, and immediately gives Harris the weak side a long shot; The second quarter fed Maxi's assist, and it was also unilateral and Embiid passed inside and outside twice, giving Maxi a surprise attack on the weak side.
Find Embiid to block the demolition, and Maxi will too.
While feeding Embiid, playing by himself, while using Embiid's containment, he can make the ball for open teammates at any time - this job requires vision and rhythm, and Philadelphia will be able to do it alone.
Embiid only had 1 assist today: it's not that he refuses to pass, it's that the Bulls are full of people at every turn, and he can't find a comfortable passer.
House didn't often get it right, and Philadelphia lacked Tucker's no-ball cover wall.
So today, the Bulls' defense has become a bite game: joint defense, pinching, rounding up ball carriers, and letting Embiid and Maxi go it alone. After the game, coach Rivers nagged, saying that the team transferred the ball too badly, obviously the pass was quite good when the previous streak was winning!
This shows that in this kind of stranglehold, only Harden can steadily pick the ball out of the open space in Philadelphia.
Even after Embiid got off the court, Philadelphia's second overtime score — Maxi and Harris' singles — was Harden's layout on the weak side.
So today Harden played 46 minutes with an injury, and he was not in good shape to shoot suddenly, and he had to continue to play:
Milton might be able to take on the role, but Rivers only let him play 10 minutes.
In fact, Harden missed 14 consecutive games this season due to injury, after all, he is also a 33-year-old; But he has 37 minutes per game this season, the fifth-most in the league.
It is not only because Coach Rivers trusts the veteran, but also because of his position, there is no one in Philadelphia. This is not last November, when Harden was not there, Embiid had to score 42 points the day before, 59 points the next day, and finally got injured.
Today's competition proves once again:
Philadelphia has Embiid, the league's top defensive scoring king, the league's top accurate catch-and-shoot finishing group, and continuous defensive communication and resilience.
But Harden was the only one who gave the scoring champions, the empty basket and Maxi the shots to the scoring champions, the open basket and Maxi's chambers consistently, accurately and in a timely manner.
If Philadelphia has any weaknesses right now, this is their weakness:
When it comes time to dispatch the situation, Coach Rivers only believes, and I am afraid that he can only trust Harden - he would rather go up with an injured Harden than use Milton.
Philadelphia has a good thickness, and the whole team can take turns taking chances, but it is the two who start creating opportunities.
One last thing:
From 2012 to 2015, he was the assist king four times in a row: two-time Rondo, two-time Paul.
The head coach of the four-time assist king's team is Rivers.
So far this season, he has assisted King Harden, and the head coach is still Rivers.
Find an organizational master, give him all the keys to the house, make all the adjustments on the spot, and use him for exhaustion - in this regard, the two coaches Dantoni and Rivers are really bright.