Snapshot:James Harden’s numbers entering Monday’s game at Toyota Center were impossible to ignore, even by his standards.Now holding the keys to Houston’s offense as the team’s lead guard, the four-time All-Star began the day ranked fifth in the NBA in scoring (30.0 ppg), and first in assists (13.0 apg).Boasting an average of 8.0 rebounds per game as well, Harden has been cranking out points, dimes, and boards at a rate that has never before been sustained by a single person in a single season in league history.”Daunting” and “intimidating” was how Brett Brown described Harden’s output through nine games. The dangerous 27-year old, no doubt, had the complete attention of the Sixers’ coaching staff.Sometimes, though, regardless of how much game planning is done, and preparation put in, talent overwhelms. And so it was Monday, particularly when Harden went off in the opening period of the Sixers’ 115-88 loss to the Rockets. Exploding for 23 points in the frame, he delivered the highest-scoring quarter of his eight-year career. “We saw a great player dominate a first period,” Brown said afterwards. “We dug ourselves a hole from the beginning.”Harden didn’t miss any of the eight shots he took in the first quarter. He played all 12 minutes, scoring with driving scoop lay-ups, scoring with elbow jumpers, and scoring with 3-pointers. Here’s a look at Harden’s first-quarter shot chart:Harden came back down to earth a bit in the second quarter, misfiring on all five of his field goal attempts. He finished the evening with 33 points (12-20 fg, 4-8 3fg, 5-5 ft), his sixth 30-point showing in 10 outings. “Individually, he’s brilliant, and he’s a veteran,” Brown said.Heading into Monday’s contest, Brown and the Sixers were keenly aware of the just how much damage Harden could do, especially in pick-and-roll sets. The fourth-year head coach had hoped to use the combination of Robert Covington, and T.J. McConnell to defend the Arizona product.Covington was given the first crack at dealing with Harden, but was whistled for two personal fouls in the opening four minutes. Brown had to adjust.”We tried multiple match-ups,” said Brown. “You go with Gerald, you got Robert in foul trouble, we tried T.J., we come back with Nik .”You have to be all on point. There is no margin for error when you’re trying to guard James Harden.”On the plus side for the Sixers, Joel Embiid returned to action in solid fashion. He missed Saturday’s stop in Atlanta due to rest.Against Houston, the rookie racked up his second double-double in seven appearances, posting 13 points (6-10 fg, 0-2 3fg) and 10 boards in 22 minutes.”He’s pretty good,” Embiid said of Harden. “He played well, he made shots, they made shots.”In Brown’s eyes, the most telling measure of Embiid’s impact was the plus-minus rating of 3 he managed to generate, in light of his six turnovers. The plus-minute statistic in basketball quantifies the difference in points scored between a team and its opponent when a specific player is on the court. The Sixers, despite losing Monday’s game by 27 points, outscored the Rockets 53-50 with Embiid in the line-up.”It’s hard to do that in a game that was that much of a one way fight,” said Brown. “You’re seeing something very unique in Joel Embiid.”Embiid tallied seven of the Sixers’ first nine points, helping the club to an early 12-7 edge. Dario Saric, who produced 11 points (4-11 fg, 1-3 fg) and six rebounds, had, at that stage of the game, the team’s other five points. Moments later, Harden began his take over. As much havoc as Harden wreaked, Houston also benefited from a convincing performance on the glass, out rebounding the Sixers by 18. The Rockets were plus-seven in offensive rebounding as well, which translated to a 26-15 advantage in second-chance points. They had success in transition, too, outscoring the Sixers 24-13 in transition. “We felt like it was still in us to turn this into a game,” Brown said. “The game got away from us.”Monday was the Sixers’ fifth game in eight days. They return to action Wednesday, when Washington visits The Center. The tilt starts a home-heavy stretch in which the Sixers play 10 of 12 at home.Check back later for continuing updates to this story.
