James Harden was at the top of his game during his time with the Houston Rockets during which he won three scoring titles and the NBA MVP award in 2018. However, his career came crashing down in 2020. He has been multiple times criticized for his late-night partying and weight gain. Many believe these were the reason behind the star’s poor performances. However, he lost some weight in the offseason and has been a crucial part of the Philadelphia 76ers team. Ahead of the 76ers’ matchup against the Boston Celtics next week, Harden was seen having an argument outside a casino in Las Vegas.
The 76ers are one of the best teams in the East with MVP candidate Joel Embiid and a decent bench. However, the second-round matchup with last year’s finalists won’t be a walk in the park. And they need all hands on deck.
James Harden was arguing outside a casino
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James Harden and the Philadelphia 76ers swept the Brooklyn Nets in the first round. After the Boston Celtics eliminated the Atlanta Hawks, the two powerhouses in the East are set to face each other in the second round. The 76ers were given a break to rest after their sweep ahead of the next round. But it looks like Harden had decided to use his time off to cool down in Las Vegas. According to a report from TMZ, Harden was seen arguing with a man outside a Las Vegas casino around 1:25 AM on Monday.
As per the report, the man Harden was seen having a dispute with is a member of the star’s crew. However, it is unclear what was the reason behind the whole ordeal. The report noted that the 10-time NBA All-Star and the man went inside after realizing people were watching.
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Given Harden’s reputation, this might not sit well with the 76ers fans especially when the team is looking to make a deep playoff run. Last year, fans criticized Harden for partying with rappers Travis Scott and Lil Baby after a loss to the Nets.
How well will Harden perform against the Celtics?
James Harden is no longer just the offensive force the fans know of from his Rockets tenure. He has become more of a playmaker in the past few seasons. However, he is still capable of pulling off some great moves. Similar to last year, he averaged 21 points per game in the regular season. However, it is his passing skills that give a huge boost to the Philadelphia 76ers.
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In the first round against the Brooklyn Nets, Harden’s numbers were a bit low. However, the team did not need him to step up massively against the weakened Nets. This might not be the case against the Boston Celtics, so it will be interesting to see how Harden performs against the Celtics.
