James Harden hit seven of the Sixers’ 21 threes to help Philly dominate the Nets in a 121-101 Game 1 win.
James Harden does not simply share the floor with whatever players Doc Rivers puts next to him.
In the Sixers’ Round 1, Game 1 victory Saturday afternoon over the Nets, Harden sank seven of the team’s playoff franchise record 21 three-pointers.
After the win, he alluded to working with Rivers on figuring out the ideal lineups when Joel Embiid sits. De’Anthony Melton, Jalen McDaniels, Georges Niang and Paul Reed did well off the bench alongside Harden in the playoff opener.
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“Doc and myself are on the same page in the sense of, in that second unit, who’s out there, who’s going to be playing on the court and what we’re trying to accomplish,” Harden said. “We can’t make it too difficult. ... And I think that group with Melt, J-Mac, Georges and P-Reed, we get it. Obviously, everything isn’t going to be great, but defensively, we have to get stops. And then offensively, as much space as we can, and then I’ll do all the work and guys just be ready to shoot and make plays and finish.
“Tonight was a great example of that. That unit is going to be extremely key starting the second quarters, starting the fourth quarters. That’s a big part of the game, and if we can manage it and be even or even take the lead, that’s a bonus for us. Tonight was a great start for us and we’ve got to be even better in Game 2.”
How often does Rivers discuss these sorts of topics with Harden?
The Sixers' head coach gave a detailed answer Sunday, offering insight into the regular dialogue between himself and his 10-time All-Star point guard.
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“Oh, a lot,” Rivers said. “When we go with the non-Joel group … and let’s be honest, guys, that hasn’t been a great group all year. And we’ve been switching guys. Early in the year, James wanted no one else on the floor but (Montrezl Harrell), because he felt he was the better offensive player. We’ve tried to convince him that we need defense too with that group.
“I think Paul in particular has kind of grown in James’ confidence. That’s important for James, to be able to trust that he can pass it to him and he’ll finish — and that Paul will make the right play. And that’s what James had a major concern with.
“I think adding Jalen with James, we have a defensive group on the floor with James that’s still scoring now. Before, we had a bunch of offensive guys on the floor and if we didn’t score, we got mauled on the other end. So I think that group has been really good with James.”
Harrell has not been part of the Sixers’ full-strength rotation since early February. Danuel House Jr., another one of Harden’s former Houston Rockets teammates, also didn’t play before garbage time in Game 1 outside of a single defensive possession to conclude the first quarter.
Compared to Reed, Harrell entered the season significantly more predictable and polished as far as making sound decisions out of the short roll, comfortably executing dribble handoffs, and understanding how to complement star guards. With experience, Reed has progressed in those areas. And much like the 2020 Sixth Man of the Year, Reed has continued to enjoy offensive rebounding, physicality, and firing up his teammates with can’t-miss energy plays.
Though Reed posted 11 points on 5-for-6 shooting, four rebounds and two steals in his 13 Game 1 minutes, Rivers reiterated Sunday that he does not view the third-year big man as the Sixers’ lone playoff backup center.
“Again, it all depends on matchup,” Rivers said. “Against size, sometimes we’ll go to other guys. It’s a trial and error every game with him. On the games that he’s great, you keep him. Games he struggles with size, you go to (P.J. Tucker) or somebody else. And that will happen at some point, too. We’re a very flexible basketball team. That’s what makes us good.”
However the Sixers handle their second unit moving forward, it’s clear Harden will have substantial input.
He'll have a massive on-court impact, too. Much of the Sixers’ playoff performance in Embiid-less minutes figures to hinge on how effectively the 33-year-old can create and make long-range jumpers. Though he struggled inside of the arc in Game 1, any Sixers lineup tends to look good when Harden fires in a flurry of step-back threes.
“My legs and my body feel just powerful — it feels strong,” Harden said. “There’s a stint where I think I played 13 minutes straight — from the end of the first quarter and then the whole second quarter. Yeah, I feel really good. The work that I’ve put in, this is the reason for it.”
