Unrecognizable. We will not find a better qualifier to describe the James Harden of Game 2 and 3 compared to that of Game 1. Since matching his best outing in the playoffs (45 points), opening the series against the Celtics, the bearded is in big trouble.
Last night for the third round, he barely did better than during the previous meeting (12 points to 2/14 on shots and 10 rebounds): 16 points, 11 assists and 6 rebounds, but 3/14 on shots and 5 lost balloons. According to ESPN, such a level of awkwardness two games in a row is unheard of in his career.
James Harden has made just five of 28 field goal tries (17.9%) since scoring 45 points in Philadelphia’s Game 1 victory.
That’s the worst field goal percentage over any two-game span in his career, regular season or playoffs, in which he’s attempted at least 20 field goals. pic.twitter.com/imro199U6F
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 6, 2023
How to explain such a difference ? A defensive adjustment from the Celtics? The former MVP assures that ” No “. Wrong, because in the first round he was mainly defended by Marcus Smart. That night, the much longer Jaylen Brown took care of him again. And hampered him a lot with his wingspan. ” I do my job, I defend and I have fun “, is content to react the back / green winger.
” We try to make it difficult for him. He popped up in the first game, he was great and gave them the game. We don’t want him to play like that anymore, so we have to be as physical as possible with him. You have to force him to take hard shots and make him feel uncomfortable », develops Malcolm Brogdon.
stay aggressive
Mission successful because in addition to his clumsiness in shooting, the 76ers playmaker lost several balls in a gross way. Like the end of the first period marked by a pass in the stands and another deflected as he tried to sink into the opposing racket again.
” I have to look at the pictures but I have pretty good basketball instincts. I know when to score and when to pass. So I’m pretty sure a lot of those choices were the right ones. “, relativizes James Harden. But very insufficient to have an impact on the match.
Fortunately for him, his skill in free throws (8/9) allowed him to finish on a better note. Joel Embiid, however, did not hesitate to send him the message.
” We talk to him and we tell him to keep shooting, to be aggressive, not to go from one extreme to another. Some nights you’re going to get a lot of shots, a lot of tough shots, and some nights you won’t make them. So it’s about finding other ways to impact the game “, Claims the pivot, where Doc Rivers would like his players to attack the circle with more vigor.
” You have to stay calm and play at a better pace instead of just attacking and going fast. It really is a problem. There’s nothing to panic about, we just need to calm down “, Continues the pivot, also involving Tyrese Maxey (13 points at 4/16 on shots last night) in this observation. He adds : ” I have to do my part. All the guys, everyone knows their role, they have to do their part. We have to rise to the occasion. I have to be better. We all have to be better. »
