Philadelphia 76ers have things to figure out with James Harden, more in a short period of time | Opinion
PHILADELPHIA — The 76ers aren't finishing the 2021-22 NBA regular season exactly how they'd like.
While Saturday's dominant 144-114 victory over the Hornets halted a three-game losing streak, the 47-30 Sixers were in position to beat the league-leading Suns, defending champion Bucks and lottery-bound Pistons in their three previous outings but couldn't finish the job in any of them.
The Phoenix and Milwaukee losses aren't as troublesome because they are two of the best teams in the NBA coming off a Finals matchup, though the Sixers could meet the Bucks as soon as the second round of the playoffs.
The Detroit defeat was inexcusable. There's no reason a 21-win team playing for nothing tangible should dominate the fourth quarter the way the Pistons did. Being outscored 29-15 while struggling at the offensive and defensive ends is cause for concern.
The Sixers' final-period deficit in the Phoenix, Milwaukee and Detroit losses was a combined 89-60.
It didn't help the cause Tuesday that the Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 15 points in the estimated 12 possessions that veteran Paul Millsap was his primary defender as Joel Embiid rested, resulting in a 10-point lead vanishing. That cannot happen in the postseason without making an adjustment.
Saturday was James Harden's 17th game as a Sixer. While his numbers are similar to those this season with the Nets, Harden is part of the reason for the final-period issues. In the past six fourth quarters, Harden shot 4 for 18 from the floor, including 2 of 10 on 3-pointers. He was 1 for 6 in the final period Thursday on the way to a 4-for-15 evening. He didn't have to play at all in the fourth quarter vs. Charlotte.
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"We got to get back to playing the pace we had at the beginning," said Sixers coach Doc Rivers, when asked pregame Saturday about Harden's recent fourth periods. "… There are things we can do — and his numbers are not going to be like his numbers in Houston because he's playing with a pretty good player (MVP candidate Embiid). Those type of numbers I would never compare him to anybody."
Rivers said he encountered something similar with the Celtics' three stars beginning in the 2007-08 season that ended in a championship.
"When we (Boston) had Kevin (Garnett), Paul (Pierce) and Ray (Allen), everyone was getting on Ray and Kevin for not scoring the same," Rivers said. "I said, 'Yeah, they have to split the ball between three guys now.' With James, he's probably getting used to that a little bit as well."
In his first 16 outings with the Sixers, Harden averaged 22.7 points, 9.6 assists, 7.5 rebounds and shooting .413 from the field (.343 on 3-pointers). Those are solid numbers. Harden was especially effective in the fourth quarters early in his Philly tenure, only to have some trouble in recent games.
Harden's lingering hamstring tightness could be a factor, since Harden doesn't seem to have much lift when he drives to the basket. And Rivers has told Harden and the media that he wants Harden to be more aggressive in looking for his shot after Harden repeatedly said he was trying to make sure Embiid continued to get plenty of touches.
To be fair, Harden in crunch-time situations has been far from the Sixers' only issue. Embiid's recurring turnovers and a lack of offensive ball/player movement down the stretch haven't helped matters.
"We’re still really working on the chemistry,” Embiid said following the loss to Detroit. “We’re working on the spacing — where everybody should be at. It’s a work in progress."
The bench remains a problem, highlighted by backup center. Overall defense, highlighted by the inability to stop the ball, is another recurring late-game trouble spot. Embiid's turnovers can be, too.
The Sixers led by 34 points early in the fourth quarter Saturday, so they were firmly in control and didn't have to worry about important crunch-time possessions. Harden ended up with 12 points on 4-for-10 shooting, 13 assists, 8 rebounds vs. the Hornets and was a plus-27.
"When I'm advancing the ball and (my teammates) got it going — you can see we put up 140 tonight," Harden said. "(It's) just me trying to make the right plays. There's nights where I need to be a little bit more aggressive."
It's a bit of a balancing act for Harden and the Sixers.
Still, advancing deep in the best-of-seven playoffs is extremely difficult if a team doesn't regularly win close games. The Sixers could still finish anywhere from first to fourth in the Eastern Conference, which would mean home-court advantage in the opening round of the playoffs. They were fourth after Saturday's victory.
With five games left, culminating next Sunday against the visiting Pistons, there isn't a lot of time for Rivers, Harden and the Sixers to figure everything out.
Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes; @TomMoorePhilly