How The Sixers Got BETTER Without James Harden! 

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I think the change of Doc Rivers to Nick Nurse was honestly more impactful than the removal of James Harden

"Subtracting" Ben Simmons was their best move yet!

NN is also an under-appreciated coach, even if he’s recognized as a high end coach in the league. The Raps wouldn’t have won their chip without him.

All Philly had to do to truly become a contender was A) trade a point guard who can't shoot beyond five feet but is also scared of shooting layups to avoid going to the FT line B) trade the biggest diva in basketball history who is the hallmark of putting up empty stats and choking in the playoffs when it matters most (oh and frequenting strip clubs instead of hitting the gym) and C) fire a coach whose blown more playoff series leads than any other coach in NBA history. Not rocket science

They got some valuable wing 3 and D guys, but mostly they are really good now because no Doc, no Simmons, and no Harden.

We finally seem to have a little heart on this team. That and wings have been my biggest complaint for years, and at least for now, it seems like we improved with both. But also, as a 6er fan, I know to not get too hopeful yet lol. And I agree, I was so happy Hardem asked out. I was pissed they were trying to convince him to stay. Made no sense to me.

Last time I was this early Rusty had a Zach Lavine highlight intro

That “maxey-mizing” joke had me throwing tomatoes at my phone.

It's like seeing a buddy get out of a toxic relationship and really thrive ❤

Who knew trading away the 2 most negative stars in the NBA in a row would make you better. Also Maxey is a dawg

NBA fans severely underrate the impact of good coaching vs bad coaching unless its the glaringly obvious ones like going from Del Harris to Phil Jackson.

Nurse has been the biggest factor. Hes not only unlocked Maxey and Embiid but players like Tobias Harris and other role players who were always held back by Rivers incompetent system

It isn’t just addition by subtraction they got good role players that have been helping

I honestly have no idea how people can think that a team with an MVP candidate is going to be a play-in team. If you have Joel on your team you're always going to be a top 4 seed.

This trade was like that thing in Green Mile, the Harden cancer was sucked out of the 76ers and into the Clippers.

Nick Nurse is going to be pivotal in Maxeys development in the next couple seasons. Embiid is talented, but also aging and injury prone. Slowly building up Maxey and picking the right pieces around him is important. Its kinda like Minnesota balancing the time tables of both Edwards growth and Towns prime years to maximize their window

Removing Hardhead is a bonus to any team.

That Spurs shirt goes crazy

As a Sixers fan, I have to step up to the defense of Tyrese Maxey when you say that the playmaking is just "okay"(especially in the context of not liking 10+ dimes). If Maxey's playmaking is just okay, are we prepared to have that same conversation about Ja Morant? His APG might surprise you. Derrick Rose's MVP season wasn't exactly Jason Kidd-esque passing wise either. Maxey's playmaking has been excellent for the most part of the year. He's been solid at throwing skip passes to shooters(the few we have, anyway). And he's had a great connection with Joel Embiid in the two man game, and it's one of the best two man games in all of basketball this year. His 3-to-1 AST/TO ratio is his super power, as he is not only able to make these plays as a passer but he's also capable of taking care of the ball even with higher usage. I can't speak for the rest of the NBA community(not that said community matters too much) but here in Sixers Nation, Maxey is our lead guard and we're expected to give him a max. We're quite satisfied with his playmaking.

I’ve been waiting on this one

I always listen to Rusty Buckets with my Raycon Everyday Earbuds 😤

This is called Patrick Ewing effect .

I think Doc wasn’t going to take a team anywhere. Simmons is gone and Harden is gone. The “team” seems to be emerging without the divas. I also think Nurse can get the best out of Embiid.

Why do you not make deep dives anymore😢 Imo that's when you're at your best and it's THE thing that you have that other NBA youtubers don't💪🏿💪🏿

I wonder if this is going to be the end of the lead guard "engine player" (Nash, Harden, Westbrook) why run an "engine" through a guard when players like Jokic exist.

The sixers signing kawhi would be absolutely hilarious.

Sixers genuinely scare me. This is the year to control the East and try to make a push for a top 2 seed

"Kawhi would be hilarious"🤣

It's nuclear nurse. Embiid just needs cutters to cut, and he will make plays. If not he just needs to shoot or draw a foul, which is just as efficient as a covington, Melton, or Batur layup

Tyrese Maxey went the same high school as my dad

Never going to be blow it up bad, got the MVP, maxi was frequently commented on as being better than james last season & Harris is solid

Well, they got 300 pounds lighter, first off...

The Sixers have become a much more enjoyable team to watch. The team looks so much more connected on both ends of the floor.

pennies on the dollar? the value Philly got back in the trade was more like 90 pennies to the dollar on current value 😂 but give it another 3-5 years and those 90 pennies will become $3

I want to see the record after 20/30 games for now is a short sample size, just a losing streak of 2/3 games and they go from 9-3 to 9-6…

Okay but Jokic averaged 9.2 assists last year and won the title without too much issue. Nice parameters set at 10 assists. Also if we want to set it to just reaching the finals: Stockton did it twice with over 10 assists. Jason Kidd did it with 9.2 assists (led the league) in 2002-03. James Harden lost to the KD warriors in 2016-17 and led the league in assists. Just saying "big assists numbers" bad for team is absurd.

Wait until season progresses then make an analysis if they really got better or not

Update please

Alright. Removing my like once I heard that Maxey-maximising line. You deserved to be pun-ished

People thinking that was crazy. I seen 45-50 wins

They just got owned by there daddy Al horford

Saying LeBron had 10 assists and won a title is misleading. He averaged 25 pts and 10 asists in the regular season, but he was closer to 27 and 8 in the post season.

Of the people who are in the top 10 of 3 pointers made, James harden has the 2nd lowest 3pt%. Lebron James has the lowest. If you expand it to the top 20 of 3 pointers made, James Harden has the 4th lowest 3pt%. Lebron James is still the lowest % out of the 20.

ive said it before, and ill say it again. harden is the best worst player ever. he's so good that he doesnt leave room for anyone else on the team, causing games to be 5v1. prime harden might be the GOAT with the ball in his hands, but he's also the WOAT without it. harden can make any bad team decent, but he will also make any good team worse.

Why is EVERY body using this exact term

The archetype for Tyrese Maxey to emulate is Tony Parker. Maxey has an even higher ceiling because of his shooting. Imagine trying to stay in front of this guy all game and also having to stay connected as he flies around screens and dribble hand offs. I was convinced that Philly wasn't a finals contender even if they added another piece with the Harden trade draft capital. I'm not so sure anymore. We still haven't seen Embiid dominate in the playoffs. If that version shows up and Maxey continues to play at this level look out. Especially if they add another piece.

Damn bros on the James harden payroll

stop counting out the Heat they somehow look even better this season

mommy

What made me happy off of this video is the fact that there was not a single LBJ poster in the background. Hahaha. Amazing!

Harden is a drama queen with his best years squarely behind him. It's only a matter of time before we start hearing rumblings from the Clips about some random drama with him at the center. How do we know? His track record. He does it everywhere. He will still put up points. He will still contribute. But eventually his BS will do what it does everywhere he goes.

Lmao I be back when embiid chokes in the 2nd round again like he was doing way before harden got there but lol keep believing 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Still wont be winning a Chip with Embiids feeble mentality

It’s sad slandering harden for clicks when they were awful the years before harden and nurse but blaming harden for a coach is sick business

Its obviously just the coach. Sixers have been stacked even without James. Everyone knows Doc sucks hes just a motivational speaker

Even without Harden, the Sixers should still be a top 3 seed bc the dude just won an MVP. He should be held to the same standards as Jokic and Giannis, also unless they can make ECF then it's time to trade Embiid. No more excuses

Are you sure Joker didn’t average more than 10 assists a game? He won the ring

Everyone gets better without James harden

People are real quick to point finger at Harden and blame him for everything that was bad in 76ers( and thats now bad in the Clippers. ) But in 76ers it was two players that were responsible for the process. It takes two to tango. And the second one is Embiid himself. So far its not evident, but mark my words when playoffs come you will see a similar story as always, but without Harden to blame.

Maxey>Harden

y'all youtubers saying the same sht the media says is hilarious

I totally agree, but isn't "Maxeymizing" opportunities synonymous with being a playmaker?