The 76ers have given the Houston Rockets an ultimatum: they will rest Joel Embiid and James Harden at any point this game, but only if their team is ahead. What could be in store for the future of NBA basketball?
The 76ers could have an ulterior motive for resting Joel Embiid and James Harden. The Philadelphia 76ers are currently in the NBA’s top 10, with a record of 36-32. They’re only one game behind the Milwaukee Bucks for the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference. However, they’ve been resting their stars lately to stay fresh down the stretch of the season. Read more in detail here: nba standings.
The Philadelphia 76ers are determined to keep Joel Embiid and James Harden healthy for the postseason. Regardless of Embiid’s MVP bid, this means resting their great pair for a few games in the closing weeks.
Is it plausible, though, that the 76ers want to fall out of the Eastern Conference playoff picture?
Injuries have loomed huge for both Embiid and Harden in the final weeks of previous seasons. Philadelphia would undoubtedly want to prevent any setbacks for either player, since this would very certainly jeopardize the team’s championship prospects.
However, in order to avoid a possible unfavorable playoff matchup, the Sixers may be willing to rest their studs and take defeats.
Both Joel Embiid and James Harden were absent from the 76ers’ game against the Heat on Monday.
The 76ers’ James Harden (left hamstring injury) and Joel Embiid will miss tonight’s game against Miami, the second of a back-to-back.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 21, 2022
With the Sixers facing the top-seeded Miami Heat in the second half of a back-to-back on Monday, head coach Doc Rivers made the simple decision to rest his stars.
Harden was able to get some much-needed rest for his hamstring. In the previous seven games, the Beard has battled significantly with his efficiency, including a dismal performance against the Brooklyn Nets. When it comes to the playoffs, Philly cannot afford to have a hurt Harden leading the offense. He must be at his most aggressive for the Sixers.
Embiid, on the other hand, was kept out due to back pain. Aside from a fight with COVID-19 early in the season, he’s been in good shape. He indicated he anticipated to play against the Heat (h/t NBC Sports Philadelphia), but the medical staff advised against it.
On the surface, the personnel choices seem to be self-evident. For the 76ers, being fully healthy for the playoffs is more essential than regular-season seeding at this point.
Is it feasible that the Sixers might rest Harden and Embiid more often in the hopes of improving their standing by losing games?
The 76ers may benefit from slipping a position or two in the rankings.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l 0HxeZvoIs
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The Sixers are presently the Eastern Conference’s No. 2 seed. They might face the Nets in the first round if they retain their current position. That’s a risky proposition.
This season, Philadelphia is 1-3 versus Brooklyn. On March 10, the Nets thrashed the 76ers 129-100 in Philadelphia, demonstrating what they can accomplish when Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are on the court together.
Perhaps the 76ers are attempting to avoid Brooklyn?
The Nets are still three games short of the No. 6 spot (38-34) in the Eastern Conference. They’ll almost certainly wind up in the play-in game for the No. 7 seed unless something amazing happens. It’s a game they’ll almost surely win, especially if they have to play on the road and Irving is in the lineup. In theory, this could match Brooklyn against Philadelphia in the first round.
If the 76ers finish third or fourth in the Eastern Conference, they may face the Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors, or Chicago Bulls. All three of those clubs, notably Cleveland and Chicago, make for easier matchups.
The Sixers are 7-0 all-time versus the Cavs and Bulls. Cleveland is unlikely to be able to match the Sixers’ shot-creation ability, while the Bulls lack the size and defensive connectedness to slow down Philly’s attack. They haven’t been able to restrict Joel Embiid (32.8 PPG vs Chicago) in any of their four meetings with the 76ers, which has aided his quest for a scoring crown.
Unfortunately for the 76ers, losing games and dropping a position or two isn’t the end of the world. Knowing this enables them to extend Embiid and Harden’s minutes and give them even more rest as the season progresses.
However, if that is exactly Philadelphia’s approach, it may not pay off. The Sixers’ undermanned squad upset the Heat’s full-strength squad 113-106 in front of a home crowd on Monday. There are many additional aspects to consider.
Would the 76ers really rest their best players only to avoid a matchup?
On March 18, 2022, Joel Embiid #21 and James Harden #1 watch a game against the Dallas Mavericks | Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
The importance of health cannot be overstated. Given how deep the Eastern Conference is this season, it’s vital to think about playoff matchups.
Philly has attempted to ease Harden into the lineup while keeping an eye on Embiid. The 76ers may even be content to cruise for the rest of the regular season. But it’s also crucial to get experience playing against top teams.
For example, since his arrival in Philadelphia, James Harden has missed both of the 76ers’ games against the Heat. How does it help the squad in the playoffs if he has no experience with his new team versus Miami, a major contender?
Doc Rivers and company, on the other hand, cannot afford a rusty, confused bunch going into the playoffs. There has to be some cohesiveness, especially given Harden’s stay with the Sixers is still in its early stages. The Beard must continue to gain a feel for things, and Embiid must continue to understand how to maximize his effectiveness with his star guard.
Harden and Embiid resting might help the 76ers have a better first-round opponent and avoid injury concerns. However, such tactic may expose Philadelphia to a painfully uneven team dynamic in the future.
Basketball Reference provided the statistics.
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The 76ers could have an ulterior motive for resting Joel Embiid and James Harden. The 76ers are a professional basketball team in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association. Reference: philly basketball team.
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