Sixers: What to watch for as Raptors series moves north

What to watch in Sixers-Raptors Game 3: Harden’s shot attempts

Certain corners of the fanbase have complained about James Harden’s inefficient shooting in this series. His Game 2 performance — 14 points on 3-of-9 shooting, with six boards and six dimes — didn’t exactly reach the sparkling heights of Harden’s past. Here’s what I’ll say about that: it’s time to accept Harden for who he is right now.

The Sixers did not trade for MVP James Harden. He’s not going to score 40 points on 30 shots. That’s not his game anymore. Harden, in his current state, just doesn’t have the burst necessary to overwhelm defenders off the dribble like he used to. He can’t finish well in traffic and the bulk of his offense comes from the 3-point line or the charity stripe.

Okay, fine. That’s truly fine. The Sixers would obviously prefer peak Harden, but it’s not happening. He needs to embrace his strengths — the step-back 3s, the artfully orchestrated passes, and his brute strength on mismatches with smaller guards. That is more than enough to get by Toronto, and probably other contenders too if Harden’s teammates continue to step up. He’s still one of the best playmakers the game has ever seen, and Harden’s propensity for elevating teammates has unlocked the best basketball we’ve ever seen out of Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris.

Harden is making life easier on his co-stars, he’s playing a better floor game than Ben Simmons ever did, and he’s still a good enough scorer to occupy the defense’s attention. He’s really good even when the shots aren’t falling. If the shots are falling, then that’s all the better. Harden still has enough in the tank for the occasional outburst, but even in his more tame floor-general state, he has played an extensive role in Philadelphia’s 2-0 series lead.