Heat coach Erik Spoelstra gives his thoughts on James Harden, Joel Embiid
PHILADELPHIA–The Philadelphia 76ers are hitching their title hopes to their star duo of Joel Embiid and James Harden and for good reason. The two of them have been an elite duo all season as the two of them have really developed chemistry and they play off each other very well.
The Miami Heat were able to see the duo up close in the 2022 Eastern Conference semifinals, albeit both were hobbled with injuries, and the Heat were able to extinguish the Sixers in six games.
After now having a full training camp and a nearly full season under their belt, Embiid and Harden now look to take the Sixers to new heights, and Heat coach Erik Spoelstra can see the duo taking the next step.
“More continuity, more time together,” Spoelstra said of the duo. “People think you can put together teams and it’s automatically going to work. You have to take time and work through a lot of different things that a long NBA season can provide you.”
Spoelstra knows a thing or two about how important continuity is for a team. He has coached superstars such as Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Jimmy Butler, and others. It doesn’t happen overnight in this league. It always takes time.
As the Sixers prepare for the 2023 playoffs, they will need Embiid and Harden to be at their very best in order for the Sixers to reach the mountaintop in this very talented league.
