What’s the buzz on Twitter?

Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Asked Tyronn Lue about James Harden’s clear preference of communication and collaboration with his head coach.
What stood out to me about Lue’s answer is that it was similar to his “Let Russ Be Russ, but in the confines of our team” statement from February. pic.twitter.com/R5FeIyJ0my – 4:10 PM
Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHM
Asked Ty Lue if there will be any restrictions on James Harden. Lue said he had to talk to medical today. He said this 4-day break is more a physical ramp up. Minutes could be monitored. “It won’t be no crazy restrictions, but we want to be smart.” – 2:49 PM
Keith Pompey @PompeyOnSixers
Sixers forward Nic Batum is still away from the team for personal reasons. Coach Nick Nurse is unaware of when he’ll return. The Sixers acquired Batum in a package from the Los Angeles Clippers in Wednesday’s blockbuster trade for James Harden. – 12:25 PM
Sam Amick @sam_amick
The question of sacrifice will be key for these Clippers. And not surprisingly, there’s skepticism that James Harden will do what he did in Philly again.
“He’s not the same player. And I don’t think he’s willing to say, ‘I’m going to be a distributor.'”
theathletic.com/5026190/2023/1… – 11:11 AM
Sam Amick @sam_amick
Will James Harden fit with the Clippers?
I gave the microphone to three NBA scouts to analyze that question.
“I just don’t see how they blend…”
“I think they needed to do it…”
“Short term 👍 Long term 😬”
Much more here, at @TheAthletic
theathletic.com/5026190/2023/1… – 10:58 AM
Derek Bodner @DerekBodnerNBA
Some Sixers stuff over the last few days.
First up, an explainer on the James Harden trade: details on the draft picks the Sixers received, the protections on them, salary cap ramifications of the deal, and the flexibility that they gained as a result.
allphly.com/james-harden-t… – 9:59 AM
Jeff Wade @SkinWade
I think I might need to defend James Harden on this. It’s not enviable, but it’s the right thing to do – 8:22 AM
Justin Grasso @JGrasso_
“I hope we both make the finals, and he’s on the losing side of it, and we’re on the winning side of it. … I’m happy for him. He got what he wanted.”
Joel Embiid issues his closing statements on James Harden as the Sixers move forward
More here ⬇️
si.com/nba/76ers/news… – 7:34 AM
Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
New ESPN story: Joel Embiid wishes James Harden well, and said he’s happy he got what he wanted. But he disagrees with Harden’s assessment of his time in Philly.
“In my opinion, we gave him the ball every single possession, because he’s really good.”
espn.com/nba/story/_/id… – 1:13 AM
Gina Mizell @ginamizell
More Embiid on Harden trade: “We gave him the ball every single possession. Get us into everything, really, offensively, because he’s such a good playmaker. So it’s unfortunate, but we’ve just got to move on and we’ve got a good group of guys.” – 10:51 PM
Ky Carlin @Ky_Carlin
Joel on Harden (1/2): “I think he did a lot of great things for us, but the notion of misuse, maybe that might have been coming from the way he felt with the coaching staff and what was said, but in my opinion, I just feel like we allowed him to be himself…” #Sixers – 10:35 PM
Ky Carlin @Ky_Carlin
Joel Embiid on James Harden: “I’m happy that the situation got resolved. I’m happy for him. He wanted it to happen and it’s all business. I’m happy for him. I hope he has a chance to succeed and make a lot of money, play good basketball, and being able to win…” #Sixers – 10:23 PM
Kyle Neubeck @KyleNeubeck
Embiid gave a long answer on Harden’s comments today. Lot of Harden praise.
“We allowed him to just be himself, and we gave him the ball on every single possession. Because he’s really good. He’s an amazing player. I’m not that great of a passer, [so] we gave him the ball.” pic.twitter.com/biB7peKXKL – 10:17 PM
Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHM
New ESPN story: James Harden explains what went wrong and how he felt “on a leash” in Philly, why he has “everything” to prove and how he hopes Ty Lue can let him get back to being a creator and understands “I’m not a system player. I am a system.” espn.com/nba/story/_/id… – 8:47 PM
Sam Vecenie @Sam_Vecenie
Guys, I’ve watched full Harden presser. Didn’t come away thinking all of it was much better.
These are nuisances for players so you never want to take too much from them. But found some of the responses weird/interesting for a guy about to become the Clips third-best player – 8:36 PM
Jonathan Feigen @Jonathan_Feigen
Won’t happen tonight, maybe not ever, but after @dmorey traded Harden and Tucker, Sixers can still go with all ex-Rocket lineup of Beverley, Melton, House, Covington, Morris; Martin as 6th man, Nurse (former RGV coach) as coach. Feel like I’m stepping back in time watching them. – 7:49 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
The “will Kawhi and PG play on zero days rest” questions
Are now being replaced by “will Russ and Harden both start” questions
Going to be fun few days lol
FWIW I expect all four to start with Zubac. Especially with Terance Mann injured. But probably when TMann back too – 7:45 PM
StatMuse @statmuse
James Harden ranks among active players:
— 3rd in points
— 4th in assists
— 2nd in threes
— 4th in triple-doubles
— 1st in 40-point games
— 1st in 50-point games
— 1st in 40-point triple-doubles
— 1st in 50-point triple-doubles
System. statmuse.com/nba/player/jam… – 6:26 PM
Matthew Tynan @Matthew_Tynan
Just scrolled the timeline for a second — 12 of the first 13 tweets I passed were tweets or quotes about the James Harden system video. The other one was a graphic explaining that Bol Bol is not Victor Wembanyama. Let’s basketball. – 6:13 PM
Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
James Harden: “I just want to win at the highest level. Taking less money and sacrificing the role, that’s not talked about. It’s talked about the other BS. It just didn’t work out. Me leaving Brooklyn & thinking I’m going to retire as a Sixer, the front office had other plans.” pic.twitter.com/T9M6UOpsQa – 6:09 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Harden: “If you’re just talking about strictly basketball, we definitely have an opportunity. When you talk about other things that you can’t control, can’t control those things. So hopefully none of those things happen, and can just focus on basketball.” – 6:04 PM
Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
James Harden on NBA title hopes:”If you’re talking just strictly basketball, we definitely have an opportunity. When you’re talking about other things that you can’t control, you can’t control those things. Hopefully none of those things happen, & we can just focus on basketball. – 6:03 PM
Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
James Harden: “We all got one goal, and I think everybody knows what that is. For me, it’s just going out here and finding the best way to contribute to this team.” – 5:57 PM
Mark Medina @MarkG_Medina
James Harden: “I can fit in with anybody and make a championship run work. All of us are on the same page in the sense that the individual stats and all of those things are past us.” – 5:56 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Probably James Harden’s strongest comments.
Clearly pushing back on narrative that Harden might be unwilling to get off the ball, his money, etc.
“There’s a lot of narratives and people talking… people think they have an opinion or a voice, and other people listen to it.” pic.twitter.com/IOEx0iUdIH – 5:53 PM
Mark Deeks @MarkDeeksNBA
If only there’d been some sort of pattern of previous behaviour that could have made James Harden’s unwillingness to adapt foreseeable. – 5:52 PM
Andrew Greif @AndrewGreif
James Harden on why he specifically wanted to come to the Clippers: “Fit, opportunity and like I said … back home.” – 5:41 PM
Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHM
James Harden was frustrated with his hamstring injury in Brooklyn and he felt he could do more in Philadelphia but also felt he was “on a leash” trying to adapt his playing style to what was needed. He feels he’s a creator on court. He’s not talking about leash on shots attempts – 5:41 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
James Harden: “I think the game, and I’m a creator on the court… someone that trusts me, believes in me… I’m not a system player… it’s not just about me scoring the basketball.” – 5:40 PM
Janis Carr @janiscarr
Harden said Westbrook was a big reason why he targeted the Clippers when he demanded a trade. The two previously played together in OKC and Houston. – 5:40 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
James Harden says that biggest setback in Brooklyn was his Grade 2 hamstring strain in 2021 postseason. That Nets team lost in 7 vs Bucks. He was in Philadelphia the following February. – 5:39 PM
Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHM
On having four homegrown products from the LA area trying to win a title for Clippers and what it means for kids here, James Harden said, “That’s special. That goes beyond us.” He talked about kids growing up looking to Paul Pierce and Baron Davis in the past. – 5:38 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
Harden says he and Russell Westbrook go back to Boys & Girls Club… “our relationship goes far beyond basketball.” – 5:37 PM
Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHM
Asked James Harden why things didn’t work out in Brooklyn + Philly and why he feels it will be better in LA, he said things were out of his control such as injuries in Brooklyn and business side in Philadelphia. He feels comfortable back home in LA, and loves the opportunity – 5:37 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
James Harden says that he wants to be locked in defensively: “being the best version of myself, watching film, consistently communicating with coaches and continue to try to figure out how can I be great on both sides. It will take some time. Hopefully not too much time.” – 5:36 PM
Malika Andrews @malika_andrews
After a good workout today, James Harden says he hopes to make his Clippers debut Monday against the Knicks in Madison Square Garden. – 5:36 PM
Andrew Greif @AndrewGreif
James Harden said that Russell Westbrook “of course, was one of the reasons” he wanted to join the Clippers. He said he feels Westbrook has something to prove, as well. – 5:36 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
James Harden says that he had a really good workout today, will practice tomorrow, and plans to debut Monday night at Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks. – 5:35 PM
Andrew Greif @AndrewGreif
Lawrence Frank has called this a prove-it season for the Clippers. Asked James Harden if he feels motivated to prove anything in this new stop, in the last year of his contract.
“Everything,” he said. – 5:35 PM
Ohm Youngmisuk @NotoriousOHM
James Harden said he took less money, tried to sacrifice his role in Philadelphia but feels the front office had other plans. He feels there’s a lot of narratives about him and says “none of that is true.” He loved the fans and players in Philly but is happy to be a Clipper. pic.twitter.com/ilkMUIcBiI – 5:33 PM
Law Murray @LawMurrayTheNU
James Harden say fans and teammates in Philly were great. Says he took less money and changed his role to sacrifice with 76ers
“I just want to win at the highest level.” – 5:32 PM
Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps
Nick Nurse says James Harden worked hard, was in shape, was extremely professional and “looked awesome” in his time with the Sixers when he was with them over the past few weeks. – 5:28 PM

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