Wow! James Harden went off!
NBA superstar James Harden hasn’t even been a member of the Philadelphia 76ers for a full two seasons yet, but he’s already accomplishing franchise history. In fact, Harden is up there with Sixers legend Allen Iverson.
During the Game 1 contest of the Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Sixers and Boston Celtics, Harden was pure flames putting up 45 points off 17-of-30 shooting. Harden also added six assists and two steals on his stat line en route to the 119-115 win for a Philly team without their MVP candidate Joel Embiid.
Not only did ‘The Beard’ put up a postseason career-high in scoring, but he also made 76ers franchise history, being only the second Sixer in the past 50 years to score 45 points in a NBA Playoffs game.
The only other Philadelphia 76er to accomplish that feat (via StatMuse)?
The legendary Allen Iverson.
76ers with a 45-point playoff game over the last 50 years:
— Allen Iverson
— James HardenThat’t it. pic.twitter.com/yOSvEmXgtw
— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 2, 2023
Despite James Harden’s brilliant performance, I’m honestly stunned that the Philadelphia 76ers managed to pull off the win over the Boston Celtics without Joel Embiid. I thought they would be toast without him.
But hey, I’m all for it. Whether Joel Embiid is healthy or not, I rather my Miami Heat play the Sixers in the Eastern Conference Finals than the C’s (if we beat the New York Knicks in the semifinals), just because I view Philly as easier to deal with than Boston. So I’m all for what’s going on right now. Philly, I welcome it. Go ahead and pull off that upset, come in against my Heat a little banged up (like we are) and let’s brawl it out. (RELATED: J.J. Watt And His Wife Kealia Become Minority Owners Of English Premier League Club Burnley)
I love my Heat’s chances with those circumstances.