Whenever a team makes a trade during the NBA regular season, it takes some time for the new-look roster to build chemistry. The coaches have to see which players fit alongside each other on the court and how to acclimate the new players into potentially new roles. That is an even tougher process when you shake things up to the extent that the Philadelphia 76ers did ahead of the deadline.
Daryl Morey was on the hunt for an All-Star to receive in return for Ben Simmons. After months of looking, he finally got his man, acquiring James Harden from the Brooklyn Nets. Acquiring a role player with a specific skill set is one thing, but adding a future Hall of Famer and former MVP to the mix is another.
Doc Rivers was tasked with finding what works, adding his newest superstar alongside the one he already had in Joel Embiid. It has looked like an incredible pairing at some points, as Tyrese Maxey has flashed as the third scorer and Tobias Harris is getting more comfortable.
It has actually been Harden who has struggled to find his groove. His shooting numbers were down this season with the Nets, which many attributed to the rules changes the league implemented. He also wanted a trade, so he may not have been giving it his all when on the court.
LATEST NBA NEWS & ANALYSIS: NBA Film Room: Why Has James Harden’s Scoring Struggled With 76ers?
But, some of those issues have followed him to Philadelphia. His shooting numbers have worsened, as he is making only 40.2 percent of his shots overall and 32.6 percent from the 3-point line, a drop from the 41.4 percent overall and 33.2 percent with the Nets.
That has led to a drop in his scoring output as well, as he is averaging 21 points per game compared to 22.5. Both are scoring numbers James Harden hasn’t had since his Oklahoma City Thunder days when he was the sixth man off the bench. He recently discussed his thoughts on his shooting struggles.
LATEST NBA NEWS & ANALYSIS: NBA Film Room: Why Has James Harden’s Scoring Struggled With 76ers?
“I know that I’m not making shots,” Harden said. “But I’m one of the most confident players we have in this league because I put the work in. It is what it is. It’s a part of the game. … [I’ll] continue to work my [butt] off. Ain’t no other choice. Ain’t no time to feel sorry for nobody, feel sorry for myself.”
The time is now for James Harden to break out of this slump. The Philadelphia 76ers are going to need him to return to the levels we have become accustomed to seeing him if they want to make any noise in the postseason. The one positive throughout all of this is that Harden remains a high-level playmaker and has cut down on his turnovers despite still having the ball in his hands so much.
LATEST NBA NEWS & ANALYSIS: NBA Film Room: Why Has James Harden’s Scoring Struggled With 76ers?
The path to a title will not be an easy one, however. The Philadelphia 76ers drew a tough matchup in the first round, as they will be taking on the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors have an advantage in this series because Matisse Thybulle is ineligible to play in Toronto because he is unvaccinated.
