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James Harden Says 76ers Will 'Take Care of Business' and Win vs. Heat in Philly
May 5, 2022
James Harden doesn't seem particularly worried about the Philadelphia 76ers' two-game deficit against the Miami Heat.
Harden expressed confidence that the Sixers will head back to Philadelphia and take the next two games after Wednesday's 119-103 loss in Miami.
“For the most part, we are still a confident group and we’ll go home and do what we’re supposed to do,” Harden told reporters. “In the playoffs, the series doesn’t start until the road team wins. We didn’t get one of the first two, but we’ll go home and take care of business and be back for Game 5.”
For the Sixers to actually crawl out of their 0-2 hole, they're going to need a lot better from Harden. The 2018 MVP has been wildly disappointing over the first two games, averaging just 18.0 points, 7.0 assists and 6.5 rebounds while shooting 39.3 percent from the floor.
Those who hoped Harden would take on a more aggressive scoring role with Joel Embiid out of the lineup have been let down. Harden has looked two steps slow, unable to create separation on drives to the hole and equally shaky on three-point attempts.
"They did a really good job of putting two on the ball and trying to deny me basically the entire court, so it was giving our guys more space to be aggressive if they're going to deny me wherever I am on the court," Harden told reporters.
"Give them credit. But I feel like, if we make shots, and I keep saying that, but it opens up the floor a little bit more, and you have to respect our shooters now."
Embiid could return from a concussion and fractured orbital bone last Thursday as soon as Game 3 on Friday, but Sixers coach Doc Rivers was noncommittal about the MVP candidate's status.
Even if Embiid is in the lineup, he'll be at less than 100 percent. He was already dealing with a torn ligament in his right thumb before his eye injury, which will require him to play with a mask when and if he does return.