James Harden and Joel Embiid have played just a handful of games together but already look like arguably the best duo in the NBA. The trade of Harden to the Sixers sparked a lot of discussion before he even suited up for the Sixers due to the drama surrounding Ben Simmons. Many questions were based around who won the Harden-Simmons trade and at least currently due to the uncertainty regarding Irving's and Simmons' playing status, the Sixers look like clear title favorites with Embiid and Harden playing in sync as a dominant duo. So dominant in fact that some experts in the sports world compared them to one of the greatest duos of all time in Shaq and Kobe. I will give my perspective on this discussion along with gauging the Sixers chances of getting through a deep eastern conference.
The discussion of even trying to compare Embiid and Harden to Shaq and Kobe has to start with evaluating their likelihood of a winning a title this year. Ultimately, if they don't win together it is no way to fairly compare the duos regardless of the individual talent they both possess. Coming off a tough home loss to their division rival Brooklyn Nets the 76ers currently sit 3rd in the west with a 40-25 record. They still have a chance to get to the 1st seed with them only sitting 3.5 games behind the Miami Heat. The main team I see standing in the way of the Sixers is the Milwaukee Bucks as their championship experience and the ability of reigning finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo to raise his game in the playoffs will make for a difficult matchup. Also Khris Middleton, who has had some clutch playoff performances such as when he dropped 32 points in a game 6 win in the 2021 eastern conference finals without Giannis. Not to mention the defensive prowess of Jrue Holiday could make things difficult for James Harden if they are matched up against each other. A matchup between Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers will not just make for an entertaining series but could ultimately decide who comes out of the east.
What makes the comparisons of Embiid and Harden to Shaq and Kobe valid is not only how talented both are but how their talents compliment each other. There has not been a guard and big man combination with this much potential since the days Shaq and Kobe were dominating the NBA together. In Joel Embiid, we could be looking at the most dominant big man since Shaquille O'Neal as his size and skill is unmatched as his game has taken another leap. Joel has been averaging an impressive 29.7 points per game along with 11.2 rebounds making him a prime candidate for the MVP award this season. Embiid looks well on his way to etching his name alongside the greatest big men of all time and a championship would go a long way in further validating that. In the case of James Harden, he has been the most explosive offensive guard since Kobe Bryant and combining his shooting ability with his great vision could make for a nearly unstoppable pick and roll with Embiid. Harden is averaging 22.5 points per game and 10.3 assists which some have argued is a down year for the 10 time all star. However, with no longer having to manage shot selection between Irving and Durant, Harden has scored more than his scoring average in 4 of 6 games played. I expect that trend to continue as they come closer to the playoffs.
In order for Embiid and Harden to have the success many believe they could have I feel it will very likely come down to James Harden's performance in the playoffs. Harden is the most talented teammate Joel Embiid has played with and has instantly increased the championship expectations of the team. Due to those lofty expectations, Harden has arguably more pressure to win a title this year over any other superstar in the NBA. Also, considering the narrative of him fading in big playoff games will be something that likely only adds to the pressure. Specifically, in measuring the Shaq and Kobe comparisons Harden will have to play a role similar to Kobe in regards to being a closer. Harden is arguably a top 5 shooting guard all time but to fairly compare with Kobe he will have to be at his best in the playoffs. In regards to Embiid, he has already put up Shaq-like numbers this season and if he can manage to raise his game even more in the postseason it could make the 76ers even more dangerous. The Shaq and Kobe comparisons are in some ways unfair due to how successful they were together with them winning 3 of 4 titles in their 8 years together. Still, with the talent Embiid and Harden have along with the championship expectations they have together all they need to do to be considered an all time great duo is to win.
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