"If that didn’t settle their ego down a little bit, nothing will" - Doug Gottlieb says the Philadelphia 76ers no-showed in a playoff-like atmosphere vs the Brooklyn Nets
The Philadelphia 76ers hosted the Brooklyn Nets at Wells Fargo Arena, and things did not go as well as Philly fans hoped. It was the first meeting between the two teams since the blockbuster trade that sent James Harden to Philadelphia and Ben Simmons to Brooklyn.
The arena was electrifying, as the NBA community was expecting an exciting game. Fans definitely got their money's worth as the game started at an incredible pace.
However, the Nets got off to an incredibly hot start and never surrendered the lead despite Joel Embiid's attempt to keep Philly in the game. Slowly, the Nets started to pull away and were up by as many as 30 points at one point.
Pundits have ripped into the Sixers and James Harden in particular, who could not match up with the Nets. The Beard went 3-of-17 from the field, resulting in the Sixers' first loss with him and Embiid on the floor.
James Harden finished 3-17 (17.6%) from the floor vs the Nets on Thursday night.
That's the 3rd-worst FG pct in a player's first game against a former team in the shot-clock era (min. 15 FGA).
Harden is also No. 4 on the list, shooting 18.8% vs OKC in 2012. https://t.co/W6q8JLW0cM
Sports analyst Doug Gottlieb also commented on the event, saying that he believes the loss ought to have settled their ego.
"That game was, that was a playoff atmosphere. That had the atmosphere of something that could have been awesome, and Philly just no-showed and Harden especially. If that didn't settle their ego down a little bit, nothing will," he said.
After narrating Harden's journey through the NBA and the hype surrounding him after being paired with certified future Hall of Famers, be continued:
"Harden is super talented, but is he a winning basketball player? That is definitely TBD."
Many have questioned Harden's ability in big games, and he showed it once again against the Nets. In the eyes of many, it is championship or bust, which means the Sixers have a lot to figure out if they hope to go all the way.
The Philadelphia 76ers will likely cross paths with the Brooklyn Nets in the 2022 NBA playoffs
While there are several teams in the Eastern Conference worth keeping an eye on, the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets are two of the favorites to advance from the East considering their roster. Harden and Embiid could become one of the most feared offensive duos, with Tyrese Maxey chipping in on occasion.
Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant are two incredible scorers in Brooklyn and have been surrounded by several incredible floor spacers. Overcoming a healthy Nets team will undoubtedly be a tall task in a seven-game series.
The Nets have set a precedent for what could happen if both teams meet in the playoffs. It is left to the Sixers to come up with a response. Both teams will no longer cross paths in the regular season. They have met four times this season, and the Brooklyn Nets came away with three victories.