Topic: 2019 NBA Pre-Season - page 1142. (Read 920495 times)

There's no reason for the management to keep them as they are already demanding a trade.
However, it's still the management's decision if they will let go of them or just wait until they can find a great trade opportunity.

LOL, he is a choker but he is still a great player, chemistry is the most important for the Sixers as they have already MVP players like Harden and Embiid.

^^ I just Harden understand now that he can't be just the James that used to play as a Rocket with the Sixers. He needs to adjust him game, he can still get good numbers and production, but we should focus more on how he is going to help his team positively and let Joel lead and him as the second best option. And he should move away from his Nets performance. Brooklyn is now disbanding as well with Kryie and KD might be leaving soon. So Harden is now a Sixers and make it point as his priority to contribute and not choke as he usually does.

If only Westbrook played a very good season last season, Harden might be the center of criticisms right now and not him.

I agree that Harden wasn't the same as he is in the Rockets in his last 2 teams maybe because he isn't the first option offensively in both of them. In Nets, the first option in scoring is Durant and in Sixers, it's Embiid and that might affect his whole performance.

I don't know but I still believe that Harden can still put up the numbers he is getting when he is in Houston or might be a bit lesser but nevertheless, I also believe that the time they spent last season and this off-season is enough to make some adjustments and will make some improvements.

Yeah, funny that they didn't give him that rookie contract when he was part of the team that bring them to the finals against the Bucks.


Tucker could be a replacement for Danny Green's shooting outside specially in close game. And then his toughness together with House on the defensive side. I think it's a good pickup for the Sixers as they need to improve their defense against a good team in the East.

Center Deandre Ayton just re-signed with the Phoenix Suns for a $133 million 4-year contract. I can't believe the Suns earlier planned to let go of Ayton. They could've not played in the western finals this season and the finals itself last season without Ayton.   

In Philly. I really like James Harden sacrificing his contract in order to sign more players the 76ers badly needed. They got P.J. Tucker and Daniel House now, all of them former Rockets teammates and chemistry should not be hard to re-establish especially on Tucker. 

He came from an injury and they had a very short time to play together and find chemistry for playoffs. It will be different this season because he now have time to get to work with Embiid and get that chemistry on court. And if he is really serious, Harden will work hard to get his body in shape to regain that athleticism back.


That is absolutely one factor. He is still adjusting to the new rule since he have been playing like that basically his whole career. But you cannot deny that he is out of shape too last season. A lot could change if he can get into shape.

I'm not really sure if that's the case on his athleticism. Maybe he wouldn't change his playing style if the rule on foul baiting wasn't changed by the league last season. He was one of those guys getting a lot of free throws and criticized for drawing fouls by getting contact from defenders in an unnatural way after all. Refs don't call most of them now.

I think everyone was disappointed by Harden's play last season, not just Embiid.  It's clear to see that his production has fallen off a cliff and he no longer has the athleticism to draw fouls on drives.  That is taking away from his ability to get defenders to fall for his moves and allow him to get open step back three point shots off.  Pairing him with a dominant big that can also space the floor like Embiid should get him a little more space to try and make shots, but I think if we're being honest, Harden's best attribute at this point is his playmaking ability.  I think he'll be a great addition to any team as a passer, but he'll never with a championship as the #1 scorer on a team.  Houston was his only chance at that.

That's like nature. We will never know if it will happen or not. I guess we will just have to cross our fingers for the injuries to stay away from them. 
It's Embiid that I am worried mostly. Last time was the finger/palm (something to do with his hand) problem and we can see how he is like a laboring new mother trying to play the game even if it's at the worst condition.
Most big guys aches their lower part so I think he just need to keep that healthy and he can still play the game regardless where the injury will be at his upper part. He will definitely force it if he can, that's a winning player, imo.

Harden has already been out of his prime for at least two seasons. In addition, his performance in the past playoffs was one of the worst in his career. By the way, it seemed to me Embiid was also disappointed in Harden, given that Joel said that Harden is no longer the same as he was in the Rockets. Anyway, it will still be interesting to see if Harden is able to improve his performance and win the first title next season or not.

Looks like this time he really meant to win a championship because he thinks he finally land on a good team where he can actualize his effective gameplay. no competition whatsoever because only him and the big man Embiid. The guy has a chance if he can really manage to fit in the team but most of the time their chemistry is the problem. Now that he found a perfect team for his criteria, only destiny can stop him reaching his dream to be an NBA champion.

Getting a pay cut to improve the roster is already a big boost to the morale of your teammates. They now know that Harden will give everything to have a championship ring on his fingers. Hopefully, Embiid and Harden can stay healthy to be able to realize their dreams. They are both great players and I would love to see them get a championship.


Maybe because of all that talk about him being a trade piece for Durant? Spin or not, that is what they need to say to make Ayton happy and feel valuable.

Good question, but I guess the Suns management still value Ayton as part of their core, and he is the 3rd option behind Booker and CP3. And probably we will see Ayton improving in the next 2 years. Last season was a break out year. for them, winning 60+ games or more, the only team that did it and the last time the Suns goes on to win that much, it was in the Charles Barkley era. Not enough push though in the playoffs. But since everything has settled down, I expect the Suns to be in the top of the West again.

https://www.nba.com/news/suns-re-sign-deandre-ayton
Why am I having trouble believing this statement?
Well, I am glad Ayton is happy, and how I wish it was sooner.
Why should it come to a phase where the Indiana Pacers tried to offer better before they will re-sign him?
If only the extension was given last season, probably they could've ended up battling with the Warriors in the Finals and who knows what change will happen.
He was unhappy last year and that affected his performance.

Yes, they already have a good run. Even Harden just played for a short time. The chemistry between the two is already developing.

with good role players that will blend with them, Sixers can stay as good competitor from the East side, we never know if how the players

are preparing for this upcoming season but with those interviews with Harden he's really trying to adjust and willing to cut his paychecks

to get good reinforcements.

Yeah, Thybulle is growing fast at the defensive end and he should focus on that because that will be his strength in the long span of his career. Like PJ who made his career being a great defender of different known players and it had always been appreciated.
I don't doubt the 76ers' will to win the championship especially Embiid, hell, he even went forward to invite Ben Simmons back because it would be easier with them playing together to achieve their goal, but it's just Ben who had so many issues.
Now here's Harden giving way to strengthen their roster thru cutting his salary. It will be a great boosts to their chemistry because now Embiid knows they are on the same page.

I'm not sure, but If the Sixers won't make it this upcoming season I doubt if they could ever really make it. I mean they actually have a pretty good roster. They have Harris and 3 young talents Maxey, Thybulle, and Melton.
This team should be on the ECF or even the Finals. They fell short last playoffs and it is a must for them to bounce back this season. They've got Tucker which would be a good addition for their defense with Thybulle.

I really think that Giannis Antetokounmpo can develop his shooting in his younger years, he is only 27 and like Michael Jordan back then that can not shoot in the 3-point lane, but he practices and practices to the GOAT that he becomes now, for Giannis Antetokounmpo I think he has seen it on the way Stephen Curry  plays how valuable that he can become very versatile as a player and for your teammate as well, he needs to play all around, he can either become their guard, Power Forward, Center and even Shooting guard, I think other teams have seen it this season on the way the Golden State Warriors win their title, they got very versatile players that can Score inside the outside the paint, and a strong defense that could ruin the playing momentum of their opponent,


WOW! I'd never expected that from James Harden, Cutting his salary just to make a team Roster that has potential I think other teams in the NBA are desperate aswell, seeing Golden State Warriors make a comeback really threat all of the teams and I think Harden is already feeling it on his system that he can not last anymore, he is now 32 years old and I think this kind of move in cutting his salary will surely make the Philadelphia 76ers even more thankful to him,


Like if there is a team that will tolerate his ego for sure he would leave the Los Angeles Lakers, I guess the teams that want to trade Westbrook is Tepid at the moment and there is only one team that legitly wants Russell Westbrook and that is the Charlotte Hornets, only the Charlotte Hornets, but a source have said that but I have read a news ARTICLE Saying that Westbrook has never requested a trade from the Lakers and that the big 3 of the Lakers have committed that they will make it work in the next season, I don't know what of the fans of the Lakers will have to say on this because they are blaming Russell Westbrook for teams shortcomings,

Harden will be 33 this August and after 2 years, he might be leaving his prime and his body will start to deteriorate and will be slower. If Harden is that desperate to win a title, he must do it in the upcoming season or next season or his chances to win will decrease. Harden's performance in the Sixers last season isn't the same as he is in Houston or even in Brooklyn. I hope that him and Embiid will be a good duo now that they have more time playing together and I hope both of them will not get any injuries because both of them are injury-prone.

The addition of Tucker is good actually because he is a good defensive player and a decent three-point shooter.

This could be his last chance to win a ring, wth the Sixers. Still build around Joel, but Harden could be the missing pieces that they needed. They just feel short last playoff, but you can't blame Harden totally. Now that we will be healthy (hopefully, no hamstring injuries), then we will see how he really wanted to win and push himself and be the number 2 guy in this team.