After the Brooklyn Nets traded stubborn star James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for an injured Ben Simmons, it now appears that both teams ‘lost’ the trade.
While the Nets were swept in the first round of the NBA Playoffs against the Boston Celtics, the 76ers, who were one of the conference favorites, have been eliminated in the second round. James Harden, who was expected to be a savior for the team, was a no-show, and is now being vilified by his teammates and the media.
In the 76ers’ 99-90 loss Thursday night at the hands of the underdog Miami Heat, Harden went 4-for-9 with just two shots in the second half, both of which he missed. Of course, Harden was not the only reason for his squad’s loss, but he certainly did not play like the savior Philly fans thought he would be. With the loss last night, the 76ers were eliminated from the playoffs in six games.
The Sixers moved heaven and earth to acquire James Harden because Ben Simmons wouldn’t shoot the ball with the season on the line, only for Harden not to shoot the ball with the season on the line…cold world, man
— Tony Jones (@Tjonesonthenba) May 13, 2022
James Harden playing with "no pressure" this playoffs:
— Lowest PPG since he was in OKC
— Lowest FGM since he was in OKC
— Lowest FTA since he was in OKC
— Lowest FG% since 2014 pic.twitter.com/sduURshBuj— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 13, 2022
“This was one of the most atrocious performances by a star in NBA playoff history,” ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith said on ‘First Take’. “James Harden was so bad last night it almost looked like he did it on purpose.”
“It became clear he wanted no part in the post-season because he does not care about winning,” Skip Bayless said of Harden on ‘Undisputed’. “He cares about winning MVP, he cares about being ranked in the NBA’s top 75 all-time players. He cares about making huge money…James Harden got exposed on the biggest stage.”
Even Harden’s teammates, including 76ers star Joel Embiid, had something to say. “Since we got him, everybody expected the Houston James Harden,” he said. “But that’s not who he is anymore. He’s more of a playmaker. I thought, at times, he could have been, as all of us could have been, more aggressive…[he] has got to get better.”
What did you think of James Harden’s performance in Game 6, and the 76ers’ elimination? Let us know, by either leaving a reaction below or by sending us a tweet at @celebsecrets.
