Boston Celtics stole Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals matchup against the Philadelphia Sixers to regain the home-court advantage in the series. Despite a dominant performance by their superstar Joel Embiid, no one from his team stepped up to help him out. Former NBA player Jalen Rose called out James Harden specifically for his poor performance.
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Perhaps, the most exciting series in the playoffs, Celtics outplayed the Sixers beating them 114-102 in the third game of the series that shifted to Philadelphia. After a shocking Game 1 defeat at home, Celtics were determined to get an away win that would help them regain control of the series.
Despite getting Embiid back in the line-up, the Sixers played mediocre basketball, losing the advantage they had gained in the first game. Coming off a 34-point beatdown in Game 2, everyone expected them to bounce back at home, much to their despair. This leaves them with an uphill task in Game 4 to avoid going down 3-1 in the series.
James Harden got heavy criticism for his performance in Game 3
Former NBA player and ESPN analyst – Jalen Rose was critical of James Harden’s performance and did not hold back when asked about it on the show ‘NBA Countdown’. Here is what he had to say to the co-host Mike Greenberg on NBA Countdown:
“I want to give first and foremost credit to the Boston Celtics. They did something that is very unique. They basically guarded Embiid with 5 different players. Take away his airspace so that he can’t catch and shoot. Force him to beat a ball handler. And then they swarm him. But James Harden can’t put on a disappearing act in a big game.”
Jalen was spot-on in his analysis, as Harden’s impact on the game was virtually non-existent. Shooting a mere 3 of 14 from the field, he scored 16 points and had five turnovers. Showcasing his ability to still score at an elite level in Game 1, he has now underperformed in back-to-back playoff games, which is a concerning sign for the Philly team with ambitions to win the championship.
Michael Wilbon echoed Rose’s comments on the show by criticizing his inability to knock down shots in the paint. James looked confused in the game and refused to shoot a half dozen times when he was wide open.
Philadelphia Sixers need both their superstars to win
Playoff basketball is a different level of competition, and very rarely can a single player will their team to victory. There are no off days in the postseason, and the great ones are required to show up every night. If the Sixers have any chance to reach the finals, it has to be a combined one-two punch of Embiid and Harden.
Though Harden is not the same player he was with the Houston Rockets, he still has the ability and the talent to perform at that level. As exhibited in Game 1 of the series, he scored 45 points and led the team to victory in the absence of their MVP.
However, this also brings forth a major concern for the coach Doc Rivers. With Joel on the court, Harden’s first instincts are that of a passer than of a scorer. Though that is the right approach, it leads to him being passive and does not serve his natural shooting instincts. Doc Rivers’ will need to find the right balance if he wants to take his team to the summit.
