NBA Hoops

NBA playoffs: Three key questions facing James Harden, 76ers ahead of first-round series vs. Raptors

NBA playoffs: Three key questions facing James Harden, 76ers ahead of first-round series vs. Raptors

The Philadelphia 76ers enter the 2022 playoffs with some lofty aspirations after acquiring perennial All-Star James Harden prior to the trade deadline to pair with MVP candidate Joel Embiid. Their quest to advance to their first NBA Finals since 2001 begins with a first-round matchup against a well-coached Toronto team. The Raptors, who enter the postseason as winners of eight of their final 10 games, won the regular-season series 3-1 over the Sixers, including the most recent meeting between the teams earlier this month.

Here’s a look at three critical questions facing Philadelphia heading into its first-round series against Toronto. 

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1. Which Harden will the Sixers get? 

James Harden appeared in 21 games for the Sixers during the regular season since he was acquired in February, and with such a small sample size it’s still somewhat tough to tell exactly how he fits with his new franchise, and alongside Embiid.

During those games, Harden averaged 10.5 assists — a number that is elite, and in line, with his production from the past several seasons. He consistently generated open opportunities for Embiid and the rest of the Sixers by simply occupying opposing defenses’ attention and then making…

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