Sixers: Top 3 skills of James Harden in Philadelphia

Top 3 skills of James Harden with Sixers: Scoring

I truly do not think Sixers fans realize what we are getting in James Harden as a scorer. Until we see him knocking down shots at a ridiculous rate, it won’t dawn on us. You must figure he is a three-time scoring champion, seven-time All-NBA, and one-time MVP, and he is only 32 years old. There is no question that he is most widely known for his deadly scoring ability. He literally changed the game with his step-back 3-point shot. Kind of a big step up from Ben Simmons, don’t you think?

What do we get from Harden as a perimeter scorer? For his career, Harden’s 3-point attempts (7.6) is higher than any player on the Sixers since J.J. Redick in 2018 who shot eight 3-pointers per game. Last year’s leader was Danny Green, who shot a little over six per game, but neither Redick or Green were point guards. Imagine how this will impact Joel Embiid’s game. Plain and simple, Harden will create space for Joel Embiid like he’s never had before.

Then there are Harden’s dashes into the paint. A crafty dribbler, Harden will be able to break down defenders, even without a pick-and-roll set, and finish at the rim, or from pretty much anywhere inside the arc. While his career 3-point shooting percentage is 44 percent, Harden’s career 2-point shooting percentage is 51 percent. He finishes at the rim or with his nifty floater, something he could mentor Tyrese Maxey with as the young player refines his skills.

Lastly, there are the intangibles that Harden brings. Remember how hard the Sixers struggled when the shot clock would run down over the past few years? This impediment to their halfcourt offense is now lifted with the addition of Harden. Need a bucket with five seconds left on the shot clock? Hand the ball to Harden. Then, there is his scoring relief when Embiid sits. As long as Harden is playing as Embiid rests, Doc Rivers will be able to maintain leads or creep back into games when the Sixers trail.

Scoring is what Harden is most known for as an NBA star, but there is one other attribute he brings to the table. It is the same attribute that Joel Embiid brings, and it will cause nightmares for opponents.