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It’s a Great Day to be a Sixers Fan
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Today is a great day to be a Sixers fan, wherever you may be. After the farcical Ben Simmons holdout situation FINALLY ended this month, James Harden is set to make his Friday debut in Minnesota. No more rumors, no more “sources,” no more bullshit, just basketball. It’s Harden on the floor with Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris, and Tyrese Maxey, as the third place Sixers try to catch Chicago and Miami at the top of the Eastern Conference.
The season really begins tonight. Now it’s real. Doc Rivers and his players did a wonderful job of competing while playing without a max contract star for the first 58 games, and stayed more than afloat. They consistently kept themselves in good position in a clumpy Eastern Conference that doesn’t seem to have one dominant team. The door is wide open for a playoff run. It’s getting warmer out. There’s still sunlight at 6 p.m. Things are looking up around here. Hallelujah!
Get excited with some various clips and quotes:
#Sixers coach Doc Rivers on the level of anticipation in regards to James Harden’s debut on Friday vs. the #Timberwolves: pic.twitter.com/pJ2Ule9mYp
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) February 25, 2022
Doc is a liar. Of course he’s excited. He’s got James Harden on his team now. He’s got a 10-time All Star and high level facilitator in the back court. Harden throws 10 assists tonight. Bang bang. Cash it baby.
A note from Tim Bontemps:
Doc Rivers says the plan is for at least two of James Harden, Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris and Tyrese Maxey to be out on the court at all times, to ensure Philadelphia has consistent offensive threats out there at all times.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) February 24, 2022
Not holding my breath, but God willing, we’ve seen the end of the dreaded all-bench lineup. Doc has more than enough to stagger lineups now, and there’s no reason why we should see any lineup comprised entirely of second unit guys. Take the all-bench lineup and fire it into the sun, along with the blue checkmarks who became foreign policy experts when Russia invaded Ukraine.
More video:
Joel Embiid and James Harden going 1-on-1 after practice #Sixers pic.twitter.com/Jifi9NjnHg
— Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) February 25, 2022
https://twitter.com/sixers/status/1497028149711978499?s=20&t=_zbvHHXOsPO4-z1giSDs_w
Funny thing about Embiid learning the Harden step-back:
Does he even need to use it? He’s seven feet tall. He doesn’t really need to create separation from anybody. The single stepback he already has in his arsenal is more than enough to get off clean three-point looks. I guess it’s just absurd that a seven footer can shoot three pointers at all.
Congratulations everyone, we made it. Sixers basketball tonight. James Harden and Joel Embiid. GET EXCITED! <Tom McGinnis voice>
Kevin has been writing about Philadelphia sports since 2009. He spent seven years in the CBS 3 sports department and started with the Union during the team's 2010 inaugural season. He went to the academic powerhouses of Boyertown High School and West Virginia University. email - k.kinkead@sportradar.com