Joel Embiid and James Harden are some of the most prolific scorers in the league, the duo’s free-throw threat can become a cheat code for the Sixers.
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Joel Embiid finally gets to play with another superstar by his side for the first time this season. And for the first time in years with an All-Star who could share the scoring responsibility with the big man.
That is not a shot at anyone. Ben Simmons was everything for the Sixers but a scorer. Now that they have traded their All-NBA guard for another, they look much better offensively.
With James Harden leading the backcourt and Embiid leading the front, there is hardly anything their opponents can do to stop the all-out attack by this new-look Philly team.
Friday night, The Beard made his debut for his newest team and the duo did just that. Philly’s 80% of points before the fourth quarter had either Harden or Embiid’s contribution via points or assists.
Harden and Embiid looked SCARY in their first game together 😳
Beard:
27 PTS
12 AST
8 REBEmbiid:
34 PTS
10 REB pic.twitter.com/ouTykHVWfv— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 26, 2022
But what’s scarier is the duo’s consistent threat of getting the foul calls.
“It’s going to be hard to defend James Harden and Joel Embiid without fouling”: Kendrick Perkins
The new partners did not find it tough to get going, even against a Timberwolves side that just came after winning a high-intensity game against one of the league’s best teams this season, the Memphis Grizzlies.
What got everyone’s attention was the duo’s ability to get the foul calls which is a big aspect of both players’ games. Former NBA champ and ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins pointed the same out saying that it will be tough to defend those two without fouling.
The 76ers already got 16 free throw attempts as a team in the 1st quarter. Harden and Embiid combined for 11 of those. It’s going to be hard to defend those 2 without fouling. I tried to tell y’all earlier today @malika_andrews @Rjeff24 @chiney @ZachLowe_NBA
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) February 26, 2022
In a 133-102 blow out victory, Joel and James went to the free-throw line a combined 22 times and converted 19. Whereas the Timberwolves as a team got 25 attempts from the charity line.
This could be one of the best ways to get it going for the Sixers if they find themselves struggling on the offensive end. And with Playoffs approaching close, their opponents have too little time to negate this problem.
