I think it's the fact that it didn't take long for Harden to ingratiate himself with the team. I'm sure many expected it would take more than 2 games for Harden to look completely comfortable playing with a new team and alongside a dominant big man. But through 2 games, it's as if Harden has been playing with this Philly roster all season. Now he makes Embiid's life easier and opens up opportunities for Maxey, Thybulle, Harris and every other player on that roster. By relieving the offensive pressure, everyone now has more energy and motivation to play defense, which is reflected in the overall numbers.
Man I'm so torn because the 76ers are my 2nd team after Houston. Hard to root for Harden after all the years of seeing him up close but it's about the team. Let's see if he can turn it around it in the playoffs. History has shown he disappears but each year it gets a little better but not remotely close to getting over that hump. Embid should be able to get them over the top as long as Harden plays even 75% of his regular season self.
Do you guys think the sixers are better than the 2017-2018 rockets? I feel like the nets are their only real competition and they are basically a worse iteration of the warriors
I think the 17/18 team was all time good but was highly dependent on its top 2 guys. One of our guys got hurt and an even more all time team was also in existence. This Philly team looks really good so far but hard to say if they will for sure dominate the rest of the season like the 17/18 team did for an entire year. They definitely could and there’s no all time teams at the moment so their path is easier. We will see. I believe Phoenix, Philly, Brooklyn and Milwaukee are the top contenders now(assuming health) and currently I don’t think one is a clear favorite.
i’m not sure philly has the depth to win a title this year. niang and millsap should not be rotation players. green might wake up a few games in the playoffs but looks cooked otherwise. tobias having a disappointing season. after a summer revamp they’d be my favorites in ‘23 though
Starting five? I'd say it's a toss up. Defensively, that lineup of 17/18 Ariza, Tucker and Paul was an absolute menace and Capela was more than capable in the front court. Offensively, I'd have to give it to the Sixers starting five if this version of Harden holds. As a team, 17/18 Rockets had more depth. Gordon Mbah Moute when he didn't have his arm hanging from his shoulder Nene A locked in Gerald Green vs Niang Overrated Danny Green Millsap Milton Philly's not going to have any real answer for KD because no one really does. I think between Thybulle can at least slow down Kyrie. The beauty of the Harden/Simmons trade is that Philly can just hide James on Simmons all game long. Maxey is more than capable of defending Curry. Embiid can just camp out in the paint all game because Drummond and Claxton are non-factors on the offensive end. Unless Simmons comes back this year and all of a sudden has a want to score/shoot the Nets are going to play 4 on 5 on the offensive end in the postseason.
I will forever hate Kevin Durant because he really did waste 3 years of everyone's time. That Rockets team was an all timer. Could probably win in any other era except that stacked deck Warriors. That said though, this Philly team is really really good. Probably not as much talent and built up chemistry yet as those Rockets teams but the talent fit is really smooth.
I can't think of any current team at the moment that's better than the full 2017-2018 rockets. We have that thing down so cold on defense and offense. The only weakness that team has is lack of size, so like a 2 big line up would kinda wreck Capela inside. But we would stretch them out with our spacing.
