Doc Rivers says it was ‘challenging’ coaching James Harden
“It was challenging. More because we were fighting two things, and not like visually fighting. James was so good at playing one way, and the way I believe you have to play to win, in some ways is different because it’s a lot of giving up the ball, moving the ball and coming back to the ball.”
You could see it. And then there was talk about James wanting to get back to "playing like himself" next season after Philly got eliminated.
Doc has faults, but he's right in this regard. Philly can't run a Harden-centric offense with Embiid in the mix. And then you have Maxey who is developing. It makes no sense.
Philly's only chance of beating us was when Harden was being aggressive with his shot-making. If Doc is the one who pushed him towards that pass at all costs style we saw, then he is wrong.
I doubt in the games Harden had 12 points it was because Doc told him to stop scoring and being aggressive. he's just not "that guy" anymore that he was in Houston. He's 34....alot of Stars at that age you will see them have "throwback" games but can't keep up that level.
We saw it with Pierce/Garnett in their final year here in the playoffs. They had games where it looked like garnett of old. but then his age showed.
if sixers want to build an offense around a 34 year old harden taking 20 shots a game i'm all for it. because that team will not win. But then again, they wont beat the celtics with Embiid taking 30 shots and flopping all over the floor and being exhausted by the 4th quarter.
sixers are in a tough spot IMO. They are good enough to be a top 3 team in the east, but not good enough to beat Milwaukee/Celtics IMO. and they don't have much room to improve especially if Harden leaves. Unless they can trick some team into taking Harris.
Harris is an expiring contract. Harris + Maxey is a pretty solid starting package for one of those high priced stars like Lillard, Beal, etc. I mean, I'd much rather that than something centered on Herro as an example.
Yeah, Philly have more manevourability than I realized a few weeks when I first thought about Harden leaving. They can put together a nice trade package built around Maxey & T Harris. Or they can wait a year, let T Harris' contract expire and have boatloads of capspace and acquire a star that way. So they have 2 different methods of rebuilding back into title contention within 12 months if Harden does indeed leave.
So not that bad of a situation for Philly.
As for a Maxey trade package, I'd do that deal for Lillard but I wouldn't give him up for Beal. I don't think Beal can command a young player as good as Maxey. If Beal was earning $25-30mil, sure, but at $45-50mil, nope. Not with his injury history and age on top of that huge payday. I wouldn't do that deal if I were Philly.
I don't think Philly even gets any better in the short term with Beal instead of T Harris and Maxey. Best case they stay even. More probable they take a step backwards. Long term they definitely take a step backwards from the losing cost controlled and still improving Maxey & the financial flexability to add a 3rd star alongside Maxey & Embiid.
I would do it for Lillard though. Lillard is a much better player than Beal.
