The Health of James Harden: A Critical Factor in the Sixers’ Playoff Run
The Philadelphia 76ers were on a roll going into their game against the Chicago Bulls on Monday night, winning eight straight games and climbing up the NBA standings. However, that game proved to be a turning point as James Harden, the star guard, had his worst game as a Sixer. Doc Rivers, the team’s coach, revealed in a postgame interview that Harden was “hurting” and less than 100 percent. This sudden concern over his health raises questions about his ability to lead the team’s offense during the stretch run of the season.
Despite the occasional loss, the Sixers still hold the best record in the NBA since Dec. 9, with the league’s best offense during that stretch. However, the loss to the Bulls exposed a lack of offensive firepower, with Harden’s poor performance contributing to the team’s struggles. He went 2 of 15 from the field and 0 of 6 from three for five points, his lowest marks of the season. Rivers attributed Harden’s struggles to a possible injury to his left foot, which also caused him to miss two games on the Sixers’ latest road trip.
The loss to the Bulls had shades of the Game 6 loss to Miami last season, where Harden was clearly compromised and didn’t want the ball at all late in the game. This raises concerns about why Harden was even playing while hurt in a late-March game against a team that might not even make the playoffs. Harden has historically rarely missed time before arriving in Brooklyn, but he is now 33 years old and has had multiple injuries this season.
As of now, Harden is fifth in the league in minutes per game, but there is evidence to suggest that he performs best when he gets to rest. There are only 11 games left in the regular season, and the Sixers have a good chance at the two seed, and an outside shot at the one seed. However, seeding will be irrelevant if Harden isn’t healthy.
While it is tempting to push Harden to close out the regular season, the team must also consider giving him rest ahead of the postseason. In the end, the choice between pushing Harden and giving him rest isn’t a choice at all. Harden’s health is the biggest storyline during the stretch run, and the team must ensure he is fully fit before heading into the playoffs.
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