The addition of James Harden, former Kia participant of the 12 months, to the 76ers might have an effect on Joel Embiid’s MVP standing.
• Tonight on League Go: Harden made his Minnesota debut (8 EST, Bass League)
Philadelphia’s official damage report dropped Thursday evening with no point out of newly acquired goalkeeper James Harden, that means he’s anticipated to make his 76th recreation for the primary time in Minnesota on Friday.
Normally a mainstay in Kia Race to the MVP ladder, Harden is price noting right here for simply the influence he might need on Kia’s MVP nomination for Sixers large man Joel Embiid, who remains to be locked in a good race with Denver’s Nikola Jokic for the highest spot. 1 spot with our opening second half of the season.
“Nicely, I do not need to push for all the things, however the way in which I have been taking part in speaks for itself, particularly with all the things we have been by way of, the drama all 12 months lengthy and clearly lacking an enormous chunk, all the things Embiid mentioned over the weekend within the league. NBA All-Star.” Therefore, [I] I actually needed to take my recreation to a different degree, whether or not it was offensive, defensive or playmaking. Clearly, I’ve nice teammates who give all the things, and that helps so much.”
Nicely, Philadelphia added yet another in former MVP Harden, who joined the staff on Deadline Commerce in a take care of Brooklyn that included sending former teammate Ben Simmons to the Nets.
Beard versus operation. pic.twitter.com/wHeMsTZvrK
– Philadelphia Sixers February 25 2023
Remember that Harden hasn’t performed since February 2 resulting from a good hamstring. Nonetheless, Embiid expects to construct up chemistry shortly with Harden, who ought to lighten the burden considerably for the Massive Man when attacking.
James Harden was the very best participant within the league and all that, [won] “I believe it will be simple to construct that chemistry,” Embiid mentioned. Everyone seems to be on the identical web page. We’re all attempting to win a championship. So, that is the purpose. I believe it is all nearly staying wholesome, sitting on the ground and getting collectively and actually taking part in collectively.”
Philadelphia kicks off that trip Friday evening at Goal Middle.
The 2018 MVP has averaged 22.5 factors, 8.0 rebounds and 10.2 assists in 44 video games this season with Brooklyn. His file numbers symbolize his lowest manufacturing since 2012. Harden skilled with the staff Thursday in Minneapolis, and at this level, it is unknown if the star guard will return to MVP degree as soon as he hits the bottom working with Embiid, who entered Thursday evening’s video games because the participant. League prime scorer.
As we reset the Kia Race to the MVP ladder popping out of the All-Star break, you may see one change out of the highest 5, spurred partially by information that Chris Paul will miss a very long time with a damaged proper thumb, and DeMar DeRozan’s latest gorgeous rupture of video games with 35 factors. or extra on 50% or higher reimbursement.
DeRozan blessed us with one other basic efficiency in Thursday’s win over Atlanta that caught the eye of lots of his friends like Donovan MitchellAnd the Pee And the hardening. DeRozan jumped 5 locations to fourth from #9, whereas Jokic maintained his razor-thin edge over the surging Embiid.
And now, the highest 5 locations this week within the 2023-22 Kia race to the very best participant ladder:
1. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
final order: No. 1
Season stats: 26.0 ppg, 13.8 rpg, 7.9 apg
Nikola Jokic scored 25 factors, 12 rebounds and 9 assists in his first recreation after breaking the All-Star.
Jokic put in 25 factors to attain 12 rebounds and 9 assists in Denver’s win over Sacramento on Thursday, earlier than giving the match ball to Michael Mallon to have a good time the 300 coaches.y victory. The Nuggets have gained 4 consecutive video games, with Jokic amassing 15 or extra rebounds in 4 of his final 5 video games, whereas scoring 25 or extra factors in 4 consecutive video games. Embiid spoke about what he is been by way of this season, however he hasn’t confronted the identical adversities because the match’s finest participant. 4 Nuggets sat out Thursday’s recreation, and so they’ve been lacking two rookies nearly all season.
2. Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
final order: Quantity 2
Season stats: 29.6 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 4.5 apg
Joel Embiid is out for 42 factors and 14 rebounds towards the Bucks.
Embiid numbers have jumped in each main stat class because the final launch of the Kia Race to the MVP Ladder, and we’re simply ready to see how the addition of the Harden impacts the already brutal manufacturing. Sixers coach Doc Rivers plans to maintain at the least two gamers between Embiid, Harden, Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris on the bottom always to make sure the staff has constant firepower on the finish of the assault. It is a scary show for opponents in the course of the second half of the season. Embiid has scored 40 or extra factors in two of his final three video games at first of the All-Star break.
3. Giannis Antikonmo, Milwaukee Bucks
final order: Quantity 3
Season stats: 29.4 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 6.0 apg
Giannis Antetokounmo drops 50 factors and pulls 14 rebounds towards the Pacers.
The man scored 82 factors in 30 pictures in his final two video games on the All-Star Break, together with 50 the day after Valentine’s Day. His 21 discipline aim makes an attempt ranked him the fourth lowest in a 50-point recreation in NBA historical past. The Bucks will not open the second half of their season till Saturday, after they host the Brooklyn Nets (8:30 ET, ABC). This implies Antetokounmpo must be nicely rested after he hit the bottom working exhausting on the All-Star Recreation.
4. DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls
final order: quantity 9
Season stats: 28.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 5.1 apg
DeMar DeRozan scored 37 targets towards the Hawks, and continued his 35-plus streak on 50% of his pictures from the sector.
We clearly ranked DeRozan very low in our final Kia race to the MVP ladder two weeks in the past. However we won’t ignore the truth that final week, DeRozan grew to become the primary participant in league historical past to attain 35 factors or extra and shoot 50% or higher for the seventh recreation in a row, solely to increase that streak (the best bull of all time), Michael Jordan did not get that work accomplished. feat by no means) till eight Thursday towards the Hawks. Chicago claimed their sixth straight win and host Memphis on Saturday earlier than hitting the highway in video games in Miami and Atlanta.
5. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
final order: no 5
Season stats: 25.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 6.5 apg
Stephen Curry offers the All-Star Recreation MVP efficiency with 50 factors, together with 16 factors from depth.
Capturing numbers stay low by Curry’s requirements. He achieved 42.8% discipline targets and 37.8% depth in 54 competitions earlier than the All-Star break. Then he confirmed us all in the course of the All-Star Recreation to by no means depend on an actual shooter (Carrey drilled 16 three-pointers within the NBA). In his first recreation after the break, Curry known as on 5 of 11 from the sector and a couple of of seven from vary within the win over Portland. However the rule of thumb boosted his playmaking, as he hit 14 assists within the recreation, simply twice lower than the Path Blazers’ help produced by a staff.
the next 5:
6. Devin Booker and the Phoenix Suns (Final Rating: No. 8)
7. Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies (final order: T-6)
8. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks (final order: T-6)
9. Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns (Final Rating: No. 4)
10. Jimmy Butler, Miami Warmth (final rating: 10)
and 5 extra (in alphabetical order): LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers; Zach Lavigne, Chicago Bulls; Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz; Jason Tatum, Boston Celtics; Karl Anthony Cities, Minnesota Timberwolves.
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Michael C. Wright is a senior author for NBA.com. You’ll be able to e mail him right hereDiscover his archive right here and comply with him Twitter.
The opinions expressed on this web page don’t essentially replicate these of the Nationwide Basketball Affiliation, its golf equipment, or Turner Broadcasting.
