The Philadelphia 76ers have been playing excellent basketball lately as they climbed to 3rd place in the Eastern Conference. They’re now just a second leg to the Boston Celtics for the No. 2 and that’s because of the immense amount of talent in their roster.
The Sixers are led by arguably the best big man in the game in Joel Embiid, as well as a future Hall of Famer inductee in James Harden. The two are the league’s best pick-and-roll duo and have found a way to be in sync on the floor.
The Ringer released their latest NBA player rankings and the Sixers have four players on their roster List of the league’s top 125 players. The number next to each player’s name represents their rank on the list:
Tobias Harris- 97
Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
The alarm clock on Harris:
When the Sixers are fully operational, Harris works primarily as a spot shooter to help keep the ground at bay for Joel Embiid and James Harden. However, as the game progresses and lineups change, Harris can take on more responsibility, creating decent looks himself while dribbling or lining up at the pole to take advantage of smaller wings. It’s an adaptability that allows Harris to help out his key teammates without depending entirely on them, giving the Sixers all the more options when managing their rotation (and notable injury absences) over a long season.
Tyrese Maxey – 65
Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
The alarm clock on Maxey’s ranking:
Maxey is developing into the third star the Sixers need alongside Joel Embiid and James Harden, offering additional shot creation and the opportunity to lose 30 points each night. He’s a three-pronged scorer who can go from glass to basket for slippery finishes, pull himself up to hit contested midrange jumpers, or land a shot well behind the arc.
James Harden – 16
Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
The Ringer on Harden’s amazing season:
One of the most prolific creators of his generation has become one of the league’s great unknowns. It’s clear that the version of Harden who qualifies for the Sixers isn’t the same dominant player who has been driving elite offenses (and leading the league in goals) year after year in Houston. It remains to be seen how much of this former MVP is really left – and how ready Harden will be to adjust to his new reality.
Even an aging Harden is great at the pick-and-roll, if not to the same ridiculous extremes as he once was. He’s a bit more reliant on pick these days to clear him a runway, and even then he’s had to dust off his long-dormant midrange game to accommodate the fact that it’s getting harder to drive to the rim.
Joel Embiid – 6
David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
The Ringer on Embiid at number 6:
Embiid does everything you would expect from a player with a 7ft, 280lb frame on offense. He can pulverize opponents at the post and support defenders under the rim before firing loudly. He can cut. He can crash the boards. He can screen and roll. He adds something new to his game every year and has become a consistent MVP candidate. He added one post move after another: drop steps. fadeaways. Face-Up Rip-Throughs. hook shots. And he’s managed to apply his inner footwork to the perimeter, with hang dribbles from drives to the basket, stepbacks off the elbows, and pump fakes to get into his pull-up. Embiid is as fluid as a player of his size can get. He is like a wing in a great body.
Source : sports.yahoo.com