76ers won’t evaluate James Harden’s play until the season ends
Ky Carlin: Doc Rivers says he won’t evaluate James Harden’s play for them right now. That will come when the season ends. #Sixers
Source: Twitter @Ky_Carlin
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Emiliano Carchia @Sportando
Amare Stoudemire: If I’m the owner of the Sixers, I cannot commit to giving Harden a max deal sportando.basketball/en/amare-stoud… – 4:59 PM
Henry Abbott @TrueHoop
Funny: James Harden appearing to crash Tobias Harris’ post-game interview. That’s him arriving on the left.
Less funny: real signs of trouble between Harden and the 76ers. https://t.co/dni1zWElSW pic.twitter.com/XUn3r5NIUI – 2:34 PM
Shandel Richardson @ShandelRich
A lot on the line for James Harden in this series: si.com/nba/heat/miami… – 1:24 PM
Stefan Bondy @SBondyNYDN
Optimistic view is Nets finally learned. Catering to Irving got them 1 playoff series victory in three years, a wronged head coach (Atkinson), a silly choice of DeAndre over Jarrett, a disgruntled (Harden), a damaged (Simmons) and an enormous payroll.
nydailynews.com/sports/basketb… – 12:45 PM
Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Joel Embiid is back at his customary spot with James Harden at the far basket as we get let into shootaround before tonight’s Game 6. Embiid wasn’t on the court when we got let in prior to Games 3 and 4. – 11:11 AM
Rob Mahoney @RobMahoney
James Harden has become a conditional superstar: theringer.com/2022/5/12/2306… – 9:58 AM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Most 40-point games, last 4 postseasons:
– Giannis Antetokounmpo (now 7)
– Luka Doncic, Kevin Durant (6)
– Devin Booker, Jimmy Butler, Kawhi Leonard, Donovan Mitchell, Jamal Murray (4)
– Damian Lillard (3)
– James Harden, Ja Morant, Jayson Tatum (2) – 9:53 PM
J. Michael Falgoust @ThisIsJMichael
Game on the line who do you trust to make the 3 in a pivotal playoff game: Harden or Giannis?
Do you want to trust your stats or your gut? – 9:46 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
Most 40-point playoff games since Giannis joined the league:
17 — LeBron
10 — Durant
9 — Harden
7 — Giannis pic.twitter.com/09viZnVP9A – 9:34 PM
Alex Schiffer @Alex__Schiffer
From today’s press conference, Sean Marks started the season by predicting extensions for James Harden and Kyrie Irving. He ended it by being much more cautious after a wild year. On the start of a crucial Nets offseason: theathletic.com/3306751/2022/0… – 6:19 PM
Jorge Sierra @hoopshype
“Not sure if this is breaking news to anyone, but players have biases and agendas, too. Just look at what happened during the All-Star starter selection after James Harden forced his way out of Brooklyn. Kevin Durant refused to take him.”
usatoday.com/story/sports/f… – 4:10 PM
Michael Scotto @MikeAScotto
Sean Marks on James Harden: “I think when players’ minds are made up, I think it’s foolish to try & change their minds. If it’s not a fit & you’re paying a guy $30+ million & it doesn’t work, you have to make a decision. I think that’s something that we did. We pivoted quickly.” pic.twitter.com/RtKB0geZ6A – 3:53 PM
Sirius XM NBA @SiriusXMNBA
Is James Harden still that guy for the Sixers?
@Frank Isola & @Brian Scalabrine discuss the tough situation Philadelphia is facing right now
#PhilaUnite pic.twitter.com/jMOlJh9iUs – 2:36 PM
Ky Carlin @Ky_Carlin
I’m gonna say it, and I know it’s gonna bother a lot of people, but Doc Rivers deserves to be cut a lot of slack for this season. The Ben Simmons thing was toxic as hell, the James Harden addition sent shockwaves, and now he’s dealing with his MVP candidate being hurt again. – 1:14 PM
Barry Jackson @flasportsbuzz
NEW: The eyebrow-raising data on the impact that Vincent and Strus are having, and Harden’s reaction to this. And 76ers, Embiid irritated about things. And more Heat: miamiherald.com/sports/spt-col… – 12:55 PM
Alex Schiffer @Alex__Schiffer
Sean Marks on James Harden and if something could have been done to change his mind, “It’s a two-way street…when players’ minds are made up it’s almost foolish to try and change their mind.” – 12:40 PM
Ian Begley @IanBegley
Sean Marks didn’t want to make definitive comment when asked about Kyrie Irving’s future. Marks notes he made mistake before 21-22 training camp when he said he expected to ink Irving, Durant & Harden to extensions. He didn’t want to make public comment on potential signing again – 12:30 PM
Alex Schiffer @Alex__Schiffer
Asked about extending Kyrie Irving, Sean Marks points out his “sign, sealed, delivered” line last season on Irving and Harden and how it didn’t become reality. Holding off on calling his shot again after how that went. – 12:16 PM
Michael Dugat @mdug
Still amazing that the 76ers included two 1st rounders along with Simmons (who was expected to play at the time) and Curry to get this version of Harden. – 9:09 AM
Keith Pompey @PompeyOnSixers
#Sixers lay down in Miami, from Doc Rivers to James Harden to Joel Embiid, in the playoffs | writes Marcus Hayes inquirer.com/sports/sixers-… via @phillyinquirer – 8:40 AM
Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
After he and Joel Embiid both took three free throws tonight, James Harden seemed to indicate he didn’t think the game was called evenly. “It’s supposed to be a playoff game, and physicality should be able to be on both ends of the ball.” – 10:35 PM
Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
James Harden says Philly’s offensive issues began with their defense. Said if they got stops early, they could’ve gotten going. Instead, they didn’t get any, and it put them on their heels from the jump. – 10:23 PM
Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Both James Harden and Tobias Harris said the 76ers didn’t match the intensity from the start by the Heat. Harris said they have to bounce back in Game 6 by getting back to what has worked for them, beginning with playing with more energy. – 10:20 PM
Mike Prada @MikePradaNBA
Great adjustment by Miami to put Jimmy on Maxey, shifting Strus to Harris and Vincent to Green. That allowed Jimmy to do what he does best: stunt on Harden and Embiid, erase passing lines, and fly out to spook his man from shooting or driving. Maxey was a total non-factor. – 10:16 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
Points in Game 5:
14 — James Harden
15 — Gabe Vincent pic.twitter.com/sOERCsikBo – 9:49 PM
Gina Mizell @ginamizell
FINAL: Heat 120, Sixers 85. Embiid had 17 points and 5 rebounds but was banged up and out of sorts save for one third-quarter spurt. Harden with 14 but was 5-of-13 from the floor and could not carry over Game 4 magic. Sixers shot 36.5 percent.
Sixers on brink of elimination. – 9:49 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
Embiid tonight: Harden tonight:
17 PTS 14 PTS
5 REB 4 AST
12 FGA 5 TOV
3 FTA 3 FTA
-29 -29
Both benched with 8 minutes left. pic.twitter.com/LORN0RHXdV – 9:38 PM
Brian Geltzeiler @BGeltzNBA
The way the Sixers have quit in this game is a bad look. Harden in particular can’t be bothered with running back on defense. – 9:34 PM
Brian Mahoney @briancmahoney
Outside of Harden getting hot in the fourth quarter of Game 4, has there been more than a few compelling minutes in this series? Heat could just do us a favor by wrapping it up in Game 6. – 9:33 PM
Bill Simmons @BillSimmons
Harden’s back! (To being the other Harden.) – 9:26 PM
Gina Mizell @ginamizell
Embiid starting the fourth with Harden, Maxey, Thybulle and Niang. – 9:25 PM
Ben Rohrbach @brohrbach
James Harden [dribbles ball off his foot]: “Can I have my $270M now?” – 9:12 PM
Brad Botkin @bradbotkincbs
You can get as cute as you want with “he’s a great passer and oh man his IQ and he’s only not scoring because the attention he’s getting” but its really this simple: james harden isnt close to good enough anymore. – 9:10 PM
Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
This has been a much less tightly called game than Game 4, which is to Miami’s advantage. (I don’t think these have been fouls on these strips and off-ball fronts, btw.) Harden and Embiid have 3 FTA combined, Philly 36% from 2. – 9:09 PM
Kyle Neubeck @KyleNeubeck
The win condition for Philly right now is basically praying that Harden goes ballistic again, because the rest of this group has just been horrible – 9:00 PM
Nate Duncan @NateDuncanNBA
Harden doesn’t bother to get loose ball, then lets Tucker dribble right by him, then lets Butler also run past him for the tip dunk. – 8:58 PM
Wes Goldberg @wcgoldberg
Heat lead the Sixers 56-44 at the half. Have already made as many 3s (7) as they did all of last game. Jimmy Butler has 14. James Harden has 10 points and four asissts. Embiid is 2 of 6 from the field. – 8:37 PM
Gina Mizell @ginamizell
HALFTIME: Heat 56, Sixers 44. Miami led by as many as 18, and it feels like the deficit should be much greater. Sixers are shooting 37.5 percent from the floor and have 9 turnovers. Harden has 10-5-4. – 8:37 PM
Gina Mizell @ginamizell
Kitchen-sink time for Doc, who is putting Embiid AND Reed on the floor at the same time with Harden, Maxey and Milton. – 8:18 PM
Gina Mizell @ginamizell
Heat are 3-of-8 from 3 but have 14 points in the paint while building a 25-14 lead late in the first. Sixers are 1-of-5 from 3, including misses from Maxey, Harden, Green and Niang. – 7:51 PM
Rich Hoffman @rich_hofmann
Can not have three worse possessions in a row than that.
— Embiid doesn’t give the ball to Maxey early, messes up 2-on-1
— Harden stripped
— Green bad pass over the top, Embiid saves it for a turnover
Seven straight Miami points off those three turnovers. – 7:42 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
For 76ers — does Joel Embiid in Miami mean that Danny Green and James Harden’s jumpers will show up there as well?
For Heat — Does Erik Spoelstra have a lineup for Duncan Robinson’s defense? – 7:20 PM
Tom Moore @TomMoorePhilly
ICYMI: #NBA column: Can James Harden give the #Sixers another big fourth quarter in Game 5 tonight vs. the Heat in Miami? https://t.co/2qMFrnL3SL pic.twitter.com/QFAXYRDcZe – 7:05 PM
Ky Carlin @Ky_Carlin
James Harden work before Game 5 #Sixers pic.twitter.com/MO43XzAd2U – 6:29 PM
Chris Mannix @SIChrisMannix
NEW @TheCrossover Pod: @SarahKustok is in for Beck and we talk Celtics-Bucks, expectations for James Harden, the MVP debate, Nets offseason priorities, more. Links: bit.ly/2w1G5e2 – 4:14 PM
Keith Pompey @PompeyOnSixers
Give ‘Em To Me! I want your predictions for tonight’s #Sixers vs. #Heat game. I want the final score, winner and points for Embiid, Harden, Butler and Herro. #NBA #PhilaUnite #HEATCulture #NBAPlayoffs – 2:59 PM
Henry Abbott @TrueHoop
Is James Harden JAMES HARDEN again?
truehoop.com/p/is-james-har… – 1:57 PM
Derek Bodner @DerekBodnerNBA
James Harden’s elite shot making bailed the Sixers out down the stretch in Game 4, masking their struggles to get the ball to Embiid in the post. Quick thoughts on why Bam fronting Embiid disrupted the Sixers’ offense, how they can counter that, and more:
dailysix.com/sixers-cant-re… – 12:24 PM
Bill Simmons @BillSimmons
Whoa, no Lowry tonight!!! Sixers-Heat just a bizarre series. Everything on the table tonight… Bubble Jimmy dropping 45, Harden going 2-18, Robinson hitting 8 threes, Harden going for 30-15, the Gabe Vincent Game, I’m prepared for anything. – 11:18 AM
Barry Jackson @flasportsbuzz
From PM: A major change with Strus. 76ers promise an even better Embiid. And Harden explains why 76ers always knew they could beat this Heat team: miamiherald.com/sports/spt-col… – 9:31 AM
More on this storyline
Ira Winderman: Doc Rivers said Joel Embiid’s hand will not get better or worse. Surgery remains required. “He’s able to play and we’re thankful for that.” -via Twitter @IraHeatBeat / May 12, 2022
Tim Bontemps: Doc Rivers says Joel Embiid is feeling “as good as he can be” with everything he has going on, and that he’ll give Philly everything he has tonight. -via Twitter @TimBontemps / May 12, 2022
Nets coach and former NBA big man Amar’e Stoudemire recently slammed Harden, saying that he does not deserve to receive a max deal from the Sixers. “I can’t commit to that,” he said of offering James Harden a max deal. “If I’m the owner of the Sixers, I cannot commit to giving him a max deal. I just don’t see the dedication that I would need to see from my top 75 player. You have to be able to have a certain level of determination and focus on being the best player you can possibly be and also be there for your teammates when they need you the most. … If he’s not capable of doing that as a max player, I’m not going to be willing to now give you a max contract if you’re not showing me that you can handle the situation.” -via ahnfiredigital.com / May 12, 2022
