He came out of that mini-break in the season on fire, scoring 26.8 points per game on 59.2 percent shooting from the field in his first four games in a Sixers uniform. The Sixers traded for him at the trade deadline and gave him the following two weeks post-trade to rest and rehab his hamstring. The week off Harden will receive between his last game of the regular season on April 9 and Game 1 against the Raptors on Saturday could potentially lead to some improvement in his play. The Sixers will come a lot closer to finding out the answer beginning in the first round against the Raptors. His shooting struggles and lack of explosion are likely the result of either a hamstring injury, him losing a step or him holding something back in reserve for the playoffs. Over his last 17 games, he is averaging 19.7 points while shooting 36.3 percent from the field and 29.1 percent from three-point range. He has lacked the burst and explosive first step that has allowed him to be one of the best scorers in the league out of isolation situations. James Harden has struggled as a scorer since debuting with the Sixers after the All-Star break. Before then, here is a preview of the series containing key things to pay attention to, important team stats, x-factors and a prediction for how the series will play out:ġ. The series kicks off on Saturday night at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. Their length and physicality will present a tough matchup against a bigger, more star-driven Sixers roster. Toronto took three out of four regular season matchups. The Sixers are set to face off against the rival Toronto Raptors in the first round of the playoffs. The Philadelphia 76ers finished the regular season at 51-31 and will enter the playoffs as the No. Also, despite the individual success Harden has had, it doesn’t always translate to wins, especially against elite teams.By Matt Gregan, Sports Talk Philly Staff Writer Although they’re away from home, the team is much more well-balanced than the Rockets. The Raptors will be favoured in this match for good reason. And what could be more Game of the Week-worthy than that? Don’t be surprised if this game divulges into a one-on-one battle between Leonard and Harden. The Rockets have a far better defensive wing to do the same: Kawhi Leonard. When the Sixers beat the Rockets on Tuesday, Corey Brewer figured out ways defensively to pester Harden. Keeping Harden under control is a difficult thing to do, but the Philadelphia 76ers may have a blueprint for it. It’s hard to get more insightful than that, when he is literally the Rockets’ entire offence. The key to this game then is whether or not the Raptors can stop Harden. He is simply doing everything for the Rockets and pushing the boundaries of what is possible during the relentless grind of the NBA season. His usage rate is first in the league (by far), and second in league history. With Chris Paul sitting out, the offence runs through James Harden. Yesterday against the Knicks in Madison Square Garden, he scored 61 – tying Kobe Bryant (2009) for the most points scored by an opponent in the iconic venue. As stated earlier, the Rockets are 16-6, and Harden is averaging a ridiculous 42.5 points per game during that run. But, even if he doesn’t play, the matchup is still great, because the Raptors are great, with or without Kawhi – he has sat out 13 games this season, and the Raptors are 11-2 in those game.įor the Rockets, James Harden has played his way back into the favourite for MVP after a historic run of 22 games. If Kawhi does play (and he is likely to), this game becomes even more interesting, making it a no-brainer for GOTW. The approach makes sense, considering Kawhi’s exit from San Antonio last year was a product of the team’s unwillingness to let their star rest and recover from injury. But, it’s unclear if Leonard will play this game, since the Raptors have been giving their star plenty of rest – he has missed the last three games due to “load management”. In the tale of the tape, it’s hard to ignore the matchup between Raptors star Kawhi Leonard and Houston’s James Harden. One undeniable point is that both teams have a clear identity that works. Many may prefer the more team-oriented ethos of the Raptors, and some may even like the philosophy of letting your superstar shine. The Houston Rockets are the opposite: they started the season off shaky, but since James Harden decided to take over, the team is 16-6. The Toronto Raptors currently sit second in the Eastern Conference (a hair behind the Milwaukee Bucks) and after 50 games are the most consistent and well-balanced roster in the league. TORONTO RAPTORS (36-14) HOUSTON ROCKETS (27-20) Our upcoming NBA game of the week sees the favourite to win the Eastern Conference travel to Houston to play the league’s 2018 MVP, James Harden.
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