Why James Harden is not a good costar for Joel Embiid

By Zamir Bueno | Feb 13, 2022

Feb 6, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden (13) goes to the basket past Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) and forward Danny Green (14) during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center, NBA Trades: 3 potential James Harden for Ben Simmons trade packages. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

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PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 27: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Wells Fargo Center on November 27, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Timberwolves defeated the 76ers 121-120 in double overtime, Why James Harden is not a good costar for Joel Embiid. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

Why James Harden is not a good costar for Joel Embiid: Harden’s reluctance

Before the trade, Danny Green, Seth Curry, and Tobias Harris took over 22 percent of their shots from behind the arc, averaging at least 3.5 per game. Over 60 percent of those threes were catch-and-shoots, averaging at least 2.8 per game

.Unfortunately for the Sixers, James Harden doesn’t like to take many catch-and-shoot threes, as he’s averaged 1.9 per game since 2013 – 20.9 percent of his total threes. Harden prefers to take pull-up threes; 74.7 percent of his threes have been of the pull-up variety, averaging 6.8 per game. Harden’s reluctance to take catch-and-shoot threes will create an issue.

For example, if a team decides to double-team Joel Embiid in the low post, and he passes the ball out to Harden. As a result, it will give the opposing teams a couple of extra seconds to get back to Harden as he won’t take the three right away.

Consequently, it lessens the success rate of Embiid passing the ball out of the double team. Harden’s hesitancy to take catch-and-shoot threes isn’t the only problem; he has an entirely different skillset than Embiid is used to playing with.