James Harden

Philadelphia 76ers star James Harden is on a tear to begin the 2022-23 season. After having a full summer to rest his hamstring and be able to get in the ...

[October 21, 2022] Philadelphia is sitting at 0-2 despite two terrific performances from Harden to start the season. Philadelphia trailed the Bucks by 13 in the fourth before Harden went to work and he guided the team on the comeback trail. Philadelphia 76ers star James Harden is on a tear to begin the 2022-23 season.

Sixer star James Harden is playing well, but it doesn't matter unless his team wins.

I mean, as much as we don’t want to [make a comeback because] we want to be in the lead as much as possible, we are more than capable and have the ability to come back. On a personal level, Harden’s exceeded expectations to begin the season as he’s scored over 30 points in both matchups. Compared to their season-opening performance in Boston, the Sixers looked much better and had more favorable results in Thursday’s game against Milwaukee. When they came out for the second half, the Bucks found a way to expand their lead by as much as 12 points. In nearly nine minutes on the floor, Harden drained two shots and two free throws for six points. [Philadelphia 76ers](http://si.com/nba/76ers) returned to the floor on Thursday night.

Philadelphia 76ers star James Harden has a message for those who have criticized him in the past.

Click here to find out more about our partners. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. You can select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices.

"A lot of people don't see the work that I put in. This scoring ability and all of this other stuff doesn't come without work. So as much as people want to ...

– – [7:51 PM](https://twitter.com/PompeyOnSixers/status/1583244452239675392) [Dave Early](https://twitter.com/DavidEarly)@ [DavidEarly](https://twitter.com/DavidEarly) “We got to find ways to get into that action more.” -via [Sixers Wire](https://sixerswire.usatoday.com/2022/10/19/james-harden-wants-more-two-man-action-with-joel-embiid-for-sixers/)/ October 19, 2022 [He also worked the pick-and-roll game with Joel Embiid at a high rate as that was when the Sixers were able to have their most success offensively](https://sixerswire.usatoday.com/2022/10/19/james-harden-wants-more-two-man-action-with-joel-embiid-for-sixers/). The biggest takeaway for Philadelphia was the play of James Harden. #DidYouKnowFlow: #Sixers guard James Harden is one of five #NBA players to score at least 35 points in their season-opener. I need the winning team, final score and points for Joel Embiid, James Harden, Tyrese Maxey, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday. The Sixers have cut the lead to 2 here as we head to the break, with the Bucks up 47-45. Harden has 8 straight for the Sixers, who are down 7. He has 10 of the Sixers’ 17 points in the fourth. That last mid-range jumper was James Harden’s sixth of the game. James Harden said he’s felt the benefits of the offseason work he put in over these first two games of the regular season.

Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden put the NBA on notice last year when his team was knocked out of the playoffs in round two.

While Embiid and Maxey had small flashes in the first two games, the Sixers have ultimately relied on Harden’s success as they faced the Celtics and the Bucks. “The individual is great, and I’ll do whatever it takes for the betterment of this team, but I think all of us need to be playing at a high level. I’m just continuing to put in the work and live with the results. On Tuesday night against the Milwaukee Bucks, Harden hit on over 50 percent of his shots and put up 31 points. “Then, in that case, the results happen on the court.” As the basketball world believed Harden was on the decline, the ten-time All-Star continually sent out a reminder that with a healthy offseason, he would return to his standard form.

James Harden's offseason work on "not being so predictable" has yielded encouraging results in two Sixers losses to open the season. By Noah Levick.

“As much as people want to talk about all the other stuff that doesn’t really matter, I’m a workaholic, and I love to be in the gym and I love to play basketball. And I think that’s a part of my job.” “I’m a workaholic, so not being able to put the work in like I normally do was frustrating,” Harden said. Just continuing to put the work in and living with the results, and that’s what I live by. “So that’s a good move for us, at least tonight.” A lot of people don’t see the work that I put in. “Sam, he had a really good career, and obviously he was known for the mid-range. Just giving the defenses different looks — having a variety, a package of things that you can go to. “Just a mentor, man,” Harden said of Cassell. [Sixers’ opening-night loss to Boston](https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/sixers/sixers-celtics-nba-opening-night-2022-joel-embiid-james-harden) by leaning on that famous step-back and by drawing 12 free throws. He was brilliant in the I had a couple of threes that I missed, but I can’t control it.

Over 65 games with the Nets and Sixers last season, Harden made just 13 shots between 15-19 feet, per NBA.com shot tracking. During his last full season with ...

During his last full season with the [Rockets](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/HOU/houston-rockets/), 2019-20, he made just eight. [Nets](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/BKN/brooklyn-nets/) and Sixers last season, Harden made just 13 shots between 15-19 feet, per [NBA](/nba/).com shot tracking. Add in three more makes from 10-14 feet, where his once-deadly but recently largely abandoned floater was on point, and Harden converted on eight midrange shots against the Bucks. Operating in this intermediate space, a soft spot against dropping defenders, is a natural release valve and should yield significant returns should Harden stay on this path. The [good news](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/joel-embiid-76ers-drop-two-straight-tough-tests-to-start-season-but-james-hardens-play-a-silver-lining/) is [James Harden](/nba/players/1685255/james-harden/) has been fantastic, and at this early juncture that's a far more important development. Also, at least in Thursday's loss to Milwaukee, he was different, looking positively Kevin Durant-ish in the midrange, the analytically maligned area of the floor he has traditionally ignored.

James Harden's offseason work on "not being so predictable" has yielded encouraging results in two Sixers losses to open the season. By Noah Levick.

Click here to find out more about our partners. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. You can select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices.