The Sixers are off to an undefeated start with James Harden, but big tests are on the horizon
The Sixers, who are 3-0 since Harden arrived, play their next four games against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls and Brooklyn Nets.
James Harden of the Sixers raises his arms to the crowd late in their victory over the Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center on Wednesday.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
James Harden arrived at the Wells Fargo Center Wednesday wearing a Celine designer jacket and pants populated with swirls of orange and yellow resembling flames.
The chosen attire perfectly symbolized the 76ers’ start to the Harden era. They have totaled three consecutive double-digit wins against the plucky-but-overmatched Minnesota Timberwolves and reeling New York Knicks, with Harden stuffing the box score, Joel Embiid maintaining his MVP-caliber play and Tyrese Maxey thriving while playing more off the ball.
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Coach Doc Rivers said that he does not “overdo” regular-season games because of potential injuries and scheduling quirks for both teams that do not exist during the playoffs. Yet the upcoming week should be a better barometer for a 38-23 Sixers team that has vaulted into contender status since its blockbuster deadline trade that brought perennial All-Star Harden to Philly.
They next play a home-road, back-to-back on Friday against the 36-26 Cleveland Cavaliers, who entered Thursday in fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings, and Saturday against the 41-22 Miami Heat, who sit atop the conference. Then, they face the second-seeded Chicago Bulls (39-23) on Monday before a March 10 showdown against the Brooklyn Nets (32-31) that will be emotionally charged whether Ben Simmons plays or not.
“If we win them all, it doesn’t mean that we’ve arrived,” Rivers said. “You know what I mean by that? We want to be good and great by the end of this, right? And we need to win games doing it, but I’m not using that as some secret [sauce].”
The Sixers are 6-3 against the Cavaliers, Heat, Bulls and Nets so far this season, which helped them rise to third place in the tightly packed East standings even before Harden arrived. And that is just one segment of a challenging final quarter of the regular season.
They also have two road games remaining against the Cavaliers. They play the Denver Nuggets (sixth in the Western Conference standings entering Thursday), Dallas Mavericks (fifth in the West) and defending-champion Milwaukee Bucks (fourth in the East) at home, plus a back-to-back at the Wells Fargo Center against the Toronto Raptors (seventh in the East) and Heat. Later this month, they will travel West to play the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers and Phoenix Suns, whose 50-12 record is the best in the NBA.
The Sixers entered Thursday two games back of the first-place Heat and 2 ½ ahead of the sixth-place Boston Celtics (37-27), illustrating how dramatically seeding could shift during the next five weeks.
Rivers used the phrase “speed dating” to describe what it’s like to implement Harden during this short stretch following the All-Star break.
The coach has opted to sharpen the three or four plays Harden currently knows before expanding the collection of sets they run. The Sixers hit their first snag with Harden during Wednesday’s opening 24 minutes against the Knicks, allowing 16 points off turnovers and playing with a self-described lack of energy before their second-half turnaround. Harden said the Sixers continue to “harp on” transition defense and rebounding, two areas where they rank among the worst in the NBA this season.
“If we do that at a high level more times than not, it’s gonna be very difficult for teams to beat us,” Harden said. “Because, offensively, we get pretty good shots each possession.”
Next up is the back-to-back Rivers called “brutal” because of the travel distance from Philly to Miami. It is the second time the Sixers have been forced into that particular scheduling oddity this season, after they beat Boston at home and then rallied to top the Heat on the road in mid-January in one of their more impressive stretches of the season.
Replicating those results against the Cavaliers and Heat this weekend would be an ideal start to the Sixers’ barometer-setting week.
“We’ll be ready for all of them, hopefully,” Rivers said, “and can win all of them.”
James Harden of the Sixers comes out on the court to take part in his first home game since being traded to the the Sixer. of the Sixers and of the Knicks during the first half at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Bearded fans record the moment as James Harden of the Sixers comes out on the court to take part in his first home game since being traded to the the Sixers. The Sixers played the Knicks during at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Sixers James Harden warms up for the first time at home before his game with the Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 2, 2022.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Sixers James Harden warms up for the first time at home before his game with the Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 2, 2022.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
James Harden of the Sixers warms up to take part in his first home game since being traded to the the Sixer. of the Sixers and of the Knicks during the first half at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
James Harden of the Sixers during warm-ups to take part in his first home game since being traded to the the Sixers at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
A fan with a sign for Sixers James Harden before his game with the Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 2, 2022.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Sixers fan Alan Horwitz wearing a Harden beard with Sixers James Harden at right before his game with the Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 2, 2022.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Sixers James Harden warms up for the first time at home before his game with the Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 2, 2022.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
James Harden of the Sixers is introduced as part of the starting lineup in his first home game since being traded to the the Sixers. The Sixers were playing the Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Sixers James Harden is introduced for the first time at home before his game with the Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 2, 2022.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
James Harden, right, of the Sixers goes up for a shot against Alec Burks of the Knicks during the first half at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
James Harden, center, of the Sixers scores between Jericho Sims, left, and Evan Fournier, right of the Knicks in his first home game since being traded to the the Sixer the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Sixers James Harden collides with Knicks Cam Reddish during there 4th quarter at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Sixers beat the Knicks 123-108Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Tyrese Maxey, left, of the Sixers and Alec Burks of the Knicks collide while going after a loose ball during the first half at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
tobias Harris, right, of the Sixers and Alec Burks of the Knicks collide while going after a loose ball during the first half at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Joel Embiid, center, of the Sixers blocks a shot by Julius Randle of the Knicks during the 2nd half at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Sixers Tyrese Maxey drives on Knicks Immanuel Quickley during there 3rd quarter at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 2, 2022.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Tyrese Maxey of the Sixers celebrates after hitting a 3-pointer against the Knicks during the 2nd half at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
James Harden, left, comes off the bench to celebrate with Tyrese Maxey of the Sixers after Maxey hit a 3-pointer against the Knicks during the 2nd half at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Tyrese Maxey of the Sixers celebrates after hitting a 3-pointer against the Knicks during the 2nd half at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Sixers head coach Doc Rivers calls play against the Knicks during there 4th quarter at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Sixers beat the Knicks 123-108Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Joel Embiid, 2nd from right, of the Sixers has the ball stripped away by Evan Fournier of the Knicks during the 2nd half at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Sixers Joel Embiid is fouled against the Knicks during there 3rd quarter at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 2, 2022.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Sixers Joel Embiid shoots over Knicks Immanuel Quickley during there 2nd quarter at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 2, 2022.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Tyrese Maxey, left, of the Sixers is fouled by Mitchell Robinson of the Knicks during the 2nd half at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Tyrese Maxey, center, of the Sixers is sandwiched between Evan Fournier, left, and Immanuel Quigley of the Knicks during the 2nd half at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Tyrese Maxey, 2nd from left, of the Sixers gets a pat on the head by teammate Joel Embiid during their victory over the Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Tobias Harris, right, of the Sixers reacts to being called for a foul. R.J.Barrett of the Knicks is left. The action took place during the 2nd half at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Joel Embiid, center, of the Sixers has the ball stripped away by R.J.Barrett of the Knicks during the 2nd half at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Joel Embiid, left, of the Sixers and R.J.Barrett of the Knicks go after a loose ball during the 2nd half at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
James Harden of the Sixers raises his arms to the crowd late in their victory over the Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Sixers James Harden celebrates with the fans as the go on to beat the Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Sixers beat the Knicks 123-108Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
James Harden of the Sixers raises his arms to the crowd late in their victory over the Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Sixers James Harden throws a pass over Knicks Evan Fournier during there 1st quarter at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 2, 2022.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Sixers James Harden gets fouled by Knicks Cam Reddish during there 2nd quarter at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 2, 2022.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Knicks Jericho Sims throws a pass over Sixers Georges Niang during there 1st quarter at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 2, 2022.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Sixers James Harden waits for play to resume against the Knicks during there 1st quarter at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 2, 2022.Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Sixers James Harden high fives his teammates during the final second against the Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Sixers beat the Knicks 123-108Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
Sixers bench watches the final seconds against the Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Sixers beat the Knicks 123-108Read moreSTEVEN M. FALK / Staff Photographer
James Harden, center, of the Sixers hugs Isaiah Joe after their victory over the Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
James Harden of the Sixers waks off the court after his first home game since being traded to the the Sixer. The Sixers defeated the Knicks at the Wells Fargo Center on March 2, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
I have been a 76ers beat writer at The Inquirer since 2021, and also cover other Philly basketball stories. I especially love reporting and writing pieces that lift the curtain on the Sixers' people and process (pun sometimes intended), and that help readers feel connected to the teams they follow.
