Just five years ago, James Harden was the most impressive scorer in the entire NBA. However, there have been a few narratives surrounding him. Firstly, he never performs in the playoffs. Secondly, he has struggled as a scorer now that he is getting older. Since coming to the Philadelphia 76ers, he has mostly been a facilitator for Joel Embiid. That said, he can turn on the jets when he needs to, and that is exactly what happened last night. It was good timing as the Sixers took on the Celtics in Game 1 of their second-round matchup.
Coming into the game, no one was giving the Sixers a chance. Overall, this is due to the fact that Joel Embiid was out with an injury. His status for the rest of the series is unknown, and fans are concerned about his overall health. Although, Harden managed to carry the team on his back in a 119-115 victory. It was a vintage performance for Harden, who scored 45 points. Meanwhile, Jayson Tatum of the Celtics tried to keep up, with 39 points of his own.
James Harden Was A Beast
With the Sixers' win coming on the Celtics' home court, many were very surprised. There was a sense that the Celtics could easily take this series in five or six games. Especially with Embiid out of the picture. Now, however, many aren't so sure. The Celtics showed weakness in the Hawks series, Harden could expose them further over the course of seven games. Furthermore, NBA Twitter as a whole was very pleased with what they were seeing.
In the tweets down below, you can see what many had to say about Harden and his incredible performance. For the most part, many were stunned by what they saw. Moreover, there were others who were just happy to rain on the Celtics and their premature parade. While this series is far from over, the Sixers have most definitely set the tone. Let us know who you think is going to take this series, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news from around the sports world.
