James Harden has been awesome this season

[Im Still Ballin]

He should be getting more praise. Most of the one-number metrics rate him highly. He's played a significant part in getting Embiid easier shots. Joel's post-up frequency was 36.5% in 2021; it's now 16.9%.

With Harden, he's transitioned into one of the league's premier pick-and-roll players. With 6.8 roll-man possessions per game, the PnR makes up 23.4% of his total offense. In 2021, he was only taking 3.2 roll-man possessions per game - good for 12.5% of his offensive load.

Joel's swapped post-ups for the pick-and-roll - all thanks to James Harden. He no longer has to fight for deep position. He gets set up with high-quality pocket passes. Harden elevates Embiid in an almost Nash and Amar'e kind of way. Well, maybe not to that extent, but he's certainly made his job easier.


James Harden 2022-2023:

- 21.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 10.8 apg, 1.1 spg, 0.6 bpg
- 39.7% 3PT, 54.8% eFG, 87.4% FT, 62.2% TS
- +6.1 BPM, +5.4 EPM, +6.3 RAPTOR

[NBAGOAT]

he's the best sidekick in the league imo in a league full of good ones. Yes i'm taking him AD, booker, kyrie, george etc

[1987_Lakers]

I was surprised he didn't make the all-star team.

[jayfan]

Another Harden is really good in the regular season thread. Sweet.

Regular season has never been his issue. Get back to me in the playoffs. If he finds a way to not cower or choke when the pressure is on, then I'll be impressed.

[ImKobe]

He's going to have one of those seasons where a guy doesn't make the ASG but ends up on an All-NBA team.

[Kblaze8855]

He's going to have one of those seasons where a guy doesn't make the ASG but ends up on an All-NBA team.


Barkley and Rod Strickland both managed to be all nba second team and not be all stars. Even if you don’t wanna play you know guys are salty over that.

[SouBeachTalents]

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4e/Won%27t_get_fooled_again.jpg

[ImKobe]

Barkley and Rod Strickland both managed to be all nba second team and not be all stars. Even if you don’t wanna play you know guys are salty over that.

Happened to Pippen in '98 as well with him sitting out the 1st half of the season but still making 3rd team. Harden missed a bunch of games early which is why he didn't make it. I think he deserved to be there over either Jrue or Haliburton, both of those guys missed some games as well.

[fourkicks44]

"Brooklyn won the trade"

[Wally450]

"Brooklyn won the trade"

I couldn't believe people had the audacity to say that.

Ben Simmons is terrible. Like shouldn't even be in the league awful. Any trade involving him and Harden, the winning team is the one that acquired Harden.

[Proctor]

Regular season....

Can't wait for the playoffs

:roll:

[AlternativeAcc.]

He's a real floor general. His game has changed.

And deserves MVP consideration for carrying Embiid this year.

Phenomenal talent. Cool thread ISB

[FultzNationRISE]

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4e/Won%27t_get_fooled_again.jpg


Loney will :lol

[Im Still Ballin]

A lot of the one-number metrics have Harden better than Embiid for offense:




Name
Offensive EPM
O-BPM
Offensive RAPTOR


James Harden
+5.3 (8th in league)
+4.20 (12th in league)
+6.1 (7th in league)


Joel Embiid
+5.6 (6th in league)
+3.95 (15th in league)
+3.9 (21st in league)



Look at how deep Harden gets Embiid the ball. Joel is obviously the primary scorer, but James really sets the table and makes things so much easier. His playmaking/shot creation allows him to elevate the entire team in a way that Embiid can't. Just as how James could never elevate the defense like Joel can.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8dPiu4Nu54

[NBAGOAT]

A lot of the one-number metrics have Harden better than Embiid for offense:




Name
Offensive EPM
O-BPM
Offensive RAPTOR


James Harden
+5.3 (8th in league)
+4.20 (12th in league)
+6.1 (7th in league)


Joel Embiid
+5.6 (6th in league)
+3.95 (15th in league)
+3.9 (21st in league)



Look at how deep Harden gets Embiid the ball. Joel is obviously the primary scorer, but James really sets the table and makes things so much easier. His playmaking/shot creation allows him to elevate the entire team in a way that Embiid can't. Just as how James could never elevate the defense like Joel can.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8dPiu4Nu54

Yea I dont agree with metrics but fans have underrated playmaking forever and the Sixers are a below average offensive team without harden based on how they look last year pre trade and this year when he was injured. If playmaking didn’t matter that much, prime Carmelo would’ve been considered one of the best offensive players

[tontoz]

"Brooklyn won the trade"

:oldlol:

Harden would have been an All Star this year if he hadn't missed so many games.

[Smook A.]

He certainly has. It's a crime that he wasn't an all-star this year

[LoneyROY7]

Loney will :lol

https://y.yarn.co/504488c2-e6d8-4352-8849-cf45a4fd9de0_text.gif

[Manny98]

Regular season....

Can't wait for the playoffs

:roll:

The yearly Harden choke is inevitable, Philly fans really think this year is going to be different :oldlol:

[Full Court]

I was surprised he didn't make the all-star team.

Harden and Reaves - two mega-snubs.

[Axe]

Loney will :lol
@starface
@Akrazotile
@Fourth Tenor
@panthalassa

[HoopologyPhD]

Would OKC have won a ring with the core of Harden, Durant and Steven Adams (drafted 2013) if they had shipped out Westbrick for cash and picks?

[SaltyMeatballs]

Best playmaker in the league and having his most efficient season from 3 :applause:

[SaltyMeatballs]

Would OKC have won a ring with the core of Harden, Durant and Steven Adams (drafted 2013) if they had shipped out Westbrick for cash and picks?

Yes

[AussieSteve]

Barkley and Rod Strickland both managed to be all nba second team and not be all stars. Even if you don’t wanna play you know guys are salty over that.

Barkley started the 86 season as the 4th best player on a great team. He averaged 18/10 or so pre AS break.

Post AS tho, he averaged 23/15 and led the 76ers to a pretty elite record over their last 30+ games. Especially after Moses went down injured.

That's why his status grew so much from missing the AS to making All-NBA.