In the initial round of the 2023 postseason, the Philadelphia 76ers have successfully won both of their home games, and they appear poised to defeat the Nets in Brooklyn. James Harden, the playmaker for Doc Rivers’ team, had one of those games in Game 2, which was a little alarming for Doc Rivers’ team.
After a stellar 23-13-4 effort in the 121-101 Game 1 victory, The Beard went back to his Houston days and had a terrible Playoff game.
The Philadelphia Eagles supporters must have anticipated this day, just like some analysts. For one, Skip Bayless did.
Skip Bayless humiliates James Harden for his performance in Game 2
Harden could only muster 8 points in the more than 38 minutes he spent on the court. The 10-time All-Star made 13 field goals at a 23% clip and eight 3-pointers at a 25% clip.
The Sixers point guard has turned back into just another Jim Harden.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) April 18, 2023
Obviously, he didn’t stop there.
Sixers already have 17 turnovers – 6 by Embiid, 5 by Jim Harden. It's night like this that make me queasy about having picked the Sixers to win the East. They're just out of it.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) April 18, 2023
When this man launches into a rage, nothing can stop him. Just listen to him gush about how Jim Harden is the best player in the league on the next UNDISPUTED show.
Read More: Rangers Shortstop Corey Seager Leaves Tuesday’s Game Against the Royals with A Leg Injury!
Harden S Playoffs Dip Is a Pattern
It’s not like this has occurred in James’ career in three bad games. He has consistently underperformed in the postseason compared to how he had been performing during the regular season for well more than three postseasons.
And if it exceeds 2, it becomes a pattern. Harden has never shot more than 42% from the field in the playoffs, whether it was with the Sixers last year or the Rockets in his last 6 or 8 postseasons.
Read More:
In at least five of those nine instances, his club was one of the favorites to win it all, and occasionally they were even in series-winning circumstances when Harden suddenly started choking, eliminating his team. Let’s hope that this isn’t one of those occasions and that we at least get to watch him and Embiid in the Finals.
