Harden opens Round 1 with 'perfect game,' as Sixers top Nets
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The Philadelphia 76ers faced the Brooklyn Nets in the playoffs, and the result was a 121-101 win for the 76ers. James Harden, who had previously played for the Nets, contributed 23 points and 13 assists in 36 minutes of playtime. The 76ers showed their strength in their shooting, finishing the game with a staggering 21-for-43 from 3-point range, including 15 uncontested shots, and shooting 68% of their passes, the second-highest percentage for the team in a playoff game since ESPN began tracking this stat. This victory marked the beginning of the 76ers' journey to what they hope will be a long and successful run through the playoffs. This article will explore the game in detail and discuss the players and coaches involved, as well as the strategies and skills used to achieve the win.
Introduction
The Philadelphia 76ers entered the playoffs against the Brooklyn Nets, with James Harden, who had previously played for the Nets, facing his old team. The 76ers played a remarkable game, with a strong shooting performance that contributed significantly to their victory.
James Harden played a vital role in the 76ers' victory, with 23 points and 13 assists in 36 minutes of playtime. Despite his relatively short time with the 76ers, he seemed comfortable and at ease during the game, impressing his coach, Doc Rivers, who called it one of his best games as a catcher.
Although Harden struggled inside the arc, going 1-for-8 on 2-point shots, his step back 3-pointer was in prime form, as he went 7-for-13 from deep, including 5-for-7 in the first half alone. His ability to create opportunities for himself and others helped the 76ers take control of the game and maintain the lead.
The 76ers' shooting performance was one of the highlights of the game, with the team finishing with a staggering 21-for-43 from 3-point range, including hitting 15 uncontested 3-point shots. This statistic marked the team's most significant number of uncontested 3-point shots in any postseason game since ESPN began tracking them in the 2013-14 playoffs.
In addition, the 76ers shot 68% of passes in the game, which is the second-highest percentage for the franchise in a playoff game since ESPN began tracking that stat in 2014-15. The team's ability to shoot accurately and create opportunities for themselves was a significant factor in their win.
Joel Embiid played an important role in the game, finishing with 26 points, 16 of which came in the second half. The Nets focused much of their attention on Embiid, forcing the 76ers' other players to make plays and specifically to make shots. Embiid's patience and willingness to allow the game to come to him were vital in creating opportunities for his teammates and taking advantage of the attention being paid to him.
The Nets faced a significant talent disadvantage in the series, with the midseason trades in February that sent Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving to Phoenix and Dallas, respectively. To counter this, the Nets' game plan was to do whatever they could to keep the ball out of Joel Embiid's hands and force the 76ers' other players to make plays and shots.
Despite their strategy, the 76ers were able to create opportunities and maintain control of the game, with their shooting performance and their ability to force turnovers contributing significantly to their win. The Nets' impressive shooting performance, led by Mikal Bridges, kept them in the game, but it was not enough to overcome the Vaughn said that while he expected Philadelphia to make shots, he was disappointed with how easily they were able to do so, and how many of them were uncontested.
"We didn't have the level of intensity and the level of fight that we needed to make it difficult for them," Vaughn said. "They're a very good team, and you can't give a very good team uncontested looks.
"So we've got to be better in that regard. We've got to fight a little harder. We've got to make it a little bit more difficult for them."
The Nets will have their work cut out for them in Game 2 on Monday night, when they will likely once again be without starting guard James Harden, who was ruled out of Game 1 with a hamstring injury. Harden said after the game that he is "hopeful" he'll be able to play at some point in the series, but that it will depend on how his body responds over the next few days.
In the meantime, the Nets will have to find a way to slow down Philadelphia's offense without one of their primary defenders in the lineup. And, as Vaughn noted, they'll have to do a better job of simply making things more difficult for the 76ers than they did in Game 1.
"I think we can clean up a lot of things defensively," Vaughn said. "We can make it tougher on them. We can contest a little bit more shots, be a little bit more physical. And then offensively, we can be a little bit more patient, a little bit more efficient.
"So there's a lot of things we can clean up, but the bottom line is we have to make it tougher for them. We've got to fight a little bit harder."
For Philadelphia, meanwhile, Game 1 was a near-perfect start to what the team hopes will be a deep postseason run. But even after such an impressive performance, Rivers said he knows that there is plenty of work still to be done.
"You never know what you're going to get in Game 1," Rivers said. "But I thought overall, offensively, we were very good. Defensively, we have a lot of work to do.
"But it's always better to start the playoffs with a win. It's a good win for us. We've got to get better, but we're on the right path."
And for Harden, who has had plenty of success against his former team since being traded away in January 2021, it was a reminder of just how good he can be -- and how comfortable he has become in his new surroundings in Philadelphia.
"I mean, I've been here for a year," Harden said with a smile. "I think I know where the corners are now."
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