James Harden

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.