(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Historically, superstar guard James Harden of the Philadelphia 76ers does not play well during the NBA playoffs.
During his time with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, and Brooklyn Nets, Harden failed to come through in the postseason, which led to his teams failing to live up to expectations.
However, this year appears to be a bit different for Harden as he has put on a show during the playoffs thus far while fellow superstar teammate and reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid battles through a knee injury.
As if Harden’s Game 1 performance against the Boston Celtics in the second round wasn’t impressive enough, he filled up the stat sheet in Game 4 on Sunday to even the series at two games apiece via NBA Central.
JAMES HARDEN TODAY:
42 POINTS
8 REBOUNDS
9 ASSISTS
4 STEALS
16/23 FG pic.twitter.com/ik2KhwC5Ik
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) May 7, 2023
The efficiency + game winner such an elite game
— َ (@FeelLikeDrew) May 7, 2023
HE HAS TO SCORE 40 FOR THEM TO WIN
— Sean (@SeanSniped) May 7, 2023
I’ve missed this version of James Harden
— Kev (@GloriousKev) May 7, 2023
Harden just erased every doubt you had about him, down 2-1 to Boston dropping 42/8/9/4 on 15/21! Y’all wanted him to perform me when the pressure is the highest, here y’all have it. Top 20 player of all time. A ring after this season will solidify my position…
— Peter Osei (@PrincePeterOFC) May 7, 2023
Harden seems to be changing the narrative during this postseason while keeping the 76ers’ hopes of going the distance alive.
Although Embiid had a solid performance scoring 34 points and grabbing 13 rebounds, Harden stole the show, and Philadelphia needed everything they could get from the veteran guard on Sunday on their home floor.
The 76ers were able to come out on top against the Celtics in Game 4 by one point, which is a wild way to even up the series and avoid a 1-3 deficit.
If Philadelphia can continue to get performances like this from Harden during this second-round series, the 76ers have a good chance of advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Many pundits and fans wrote off Philadelphia following the knee injury suffered by Embiid, but now the team seems to be reinvigorated and ready to go the distance in this series and potentially beyond.
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