Joel Embiid, James Harden discuss their progression as duo for Sixers

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PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia 76ers made the big trade at the 2022 deadline to acquire James Harden from the Brooklyn Nets. They envisioned him teaming with Joel Embiid to form a formidable duo.

Games such as Friday’s win over the Los Angeles Clippers show just how deadly this duo can be when both are healthy and motivated.

Harden was phenomenal with 20 points, 21 assists and 11 rebounds. Embiid had 44 points and seven rebounds. The 21 assists from Harden are a career high and tied a Sixers franchise record for most assists in a game. Ten of those assists were passes to Embiid.

“Constant work,” said Harden. “We talk about it. Communication, going out there, do it. We don’t really rep it because of practice, but the communication is important. Then, obviously, we want to see each other succeed. If I ask him something, tell him something, and vice versa, we’ll do it.”

It’s no secret the success of this Sixers team rides on whatever Harden and Embiid do. Everything the team does is focused on those two and Philadelphia needs them to play well together.

“We know that’s better for our team,” Harden added. “Him rolling in that pocket, and us getting shots, it’ll open up the game for our shooters. It’s working really good and honestly, we can get better at it.”

The communication of the two stars is what’s most important. The fact the two of them are talking and figuring it out off the floor helps during the game. For example, they figured out a way to attack Clippers big man Ivica Zubac on Friday.

“I think it depends from game to game,” Embiid added. “The game kind of offered both perspectives as far as teams playing drop and also switching. It’s all about the timing. When Zubac was in, I knew I could get that pocket pass every single time. And I knew if I wanted to post, they were just going to double all the time. But the pocket pass midway jumper, that’s my shot. So I’d rather have that than being double-teamed in the post and getting beat up down there. So we just knew how to execute on that.”

Harden and Embiid continue to identify how teams are defending them on a nightly basis and they have figured things out on the fly. They have handled it very well.

“As soon as they go to the switching, I think what we’ve gotten better at is just the timing,” Embiid continued. “Knowing when he gets the ISO or I get the ball at the elbow or I go to the post, I think that’s where we’ve gotten better just the timing, us working together, always talking.”

It’s obvious Embiid and Harden have a great working relationship on the floor. The big fella wanted The Beard to focus more on catch and shooting as well as part of their progression and it has been working out on the floor.

“Man, he’s been great,” Embiid added. “I’ve been on him about taking more catch-and-shoot, and he’s been doing that, but like I said, we got a long way to go. I’m not where I need to be and I’m sure he’s not, but as the season goes on, just keep getting better. I think we’re gonna get there.”

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