We don’t need to relitigate this. James Harden did play to the caliber that Philadelphia — or Brooklyn, for that matter — expected of him.
After the Sixers were eliminated from the postseason, Philly’s Joel Embiid said exactly that. Both teams expected the Harden from Houston, and what they got was something completely different.
Harden lacked considerable burst and explosiveness this season, and his ability to finish at the rim was comparably dreadful relative to years past. However, the red flags were even more concerning during the elimination game on Thursday night.
