![]() Of course, the Sixers’ core players will be most consequential in the playoffs. We’ve got to look to make the right plays, whether it’s scoring or playmaking.” “In the playoffs, he has to be aggressive, whether it’s scoring the ball or finding guys. “He’s been at times way too passive,” Embiid said. The Sixers don’t need Harden to prove his unselfishness or passing acumen. But when Harden decides to attack, he’s historically been great at it because he draws fouls, gets up threes, and tends to have satisfying answers for whatever a defense throws at him. His presence doesn’t alleviate concerns about Jordan looking set to play his first postseason minutes in five years or the lack of complementary scoring on poor outside shooting nights. To state the obvious, Harden is better equipped to lead bench-heavy lineups than anyone on last year’s Sixers, including Harris. We’ve got enough talent on this team to where I don’t have to do too much, but I’m ready and willing to when the times present (themselves).” ![]() It’s just reading the pick-and-roll defense and just making the play. But even with Jo in the game … our pick-and-roll, they put two on the basketball, I hit him in the pocket, he gets a couple dunks, couple easy layups. “Yeah, because they look to me to be a little more aggressive. Niang has loved playing alongside Harden and seeing all the newly available pick-and-pop threes.įor Harden, though, is “attack mode” more natural with those second-unit players? At their best, Milton and Green check desired boxes as multi-positional, switchable defenders and willing catch-and-shoot players. The stakes were lower than the postseason and Harris' foul trouble was a factor, yes, but Rivers saw no problem giving Harden long stretches with Shake Milton, Georges Niang, Danny Green and Jordan, who were the four bench players in Friday’s rotation. But perhaps that won’t be a rigid rule in the playoffs. He liked the idea of Embiid with Tyrese Maxey, and of Harden next to Tobias Harris. Rivers initially planned on a duo-centric approach after the Sixers acquired Harden, aiming to keep two of his top four scorers on the court at all times. Harden scored 24 points and dished out 12 assists, though his second-unit success was more notable than his final stat line. You’ve got to just read the game and tonight I think I read the game well.” ![]() So that’s going to come from my aggressiveness. ![]() “And I think tonight, especially in that fourth quarter, me attacking, attacking, attacking, the playmaking ability is going to come. Just trying to find a balance … of when to be playmaker. I still need to be in attack mode and look to score the basketball, because that’s what I do. “It’s been great,” Harden said of his 8-2 start with the Sixers, “but I still need to be aggressive. Ultimately, the Sixers outscored Dallas by five points in DeAndre Jordan’s 13 minutes and picked up a comfortable victory over a team that had won 10 of its last 12 games. The team’s lead over the Mavericks swelled as Embiid sat early in the fourth quarter, removing the usual suspense about when head coach Doc Rivers would re-insert his star big man. When the Sixers have skirted around disaster during Joel Embiid’s time on the bench, there’s often been palpable relief.įriday night, there was downright giddiness.
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