Joel Embiid gets mad at James Harden for passing up wide open shot
As soon as the trade went through, NBA fans began comparing the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets. Prior to the trade, the Sixers had a good thing going. Following a five year period of tanking, the Sixers put a good roster together. The team was to be led by Ben Simmons, who was hailed as a LeBron James-caliber player in the making, and Joel Embiid, the big man. Embiid’s early career was hampered by injuries, but he was Simmons’ backup.
In 2018, the Philadelphia 76ers returned to contention in a big way. The 2018 Sixers won 50 games for the first time since 2001. They won a playoff series for the first time since 2012. However, Joel Embiid was stepping up more than Ben Simmons. The following season, the Sixers added Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris as role players. Instead of improving, the Sixers won one less regular season game. Built for the playoffs, the Sixers lost a classic Game 7 to the Raptors, behind a Kawhi Leonard shot.
By 2021, the Sixers had the East’s best record, and were expected to finally get to the Conference Finals. Instead, they were upset by Trae Young’s Atlanta Hawks in another Game 7 heartbreak. After this game, Ben Simmons refused to play for the Sixers. Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets’ “Big 3” was imploding, so they traded James Harden for Ben Simmons. After a quick start, the Sixers have struggled. Last night, they played the Orlando Magic, and Harden passed an open three pointer, to Joel Embiid’s dismay.
Joel Embiid gets mad at James Harden for passing up wide open shot
