NBA: 10 bold predictions for the 2022 playoffs

James Harden will look old and flat

On paper, there really should be no team that wants to play the Philadelphia 76ers. Their dynamic duo of Joel Embiid and James Harden, on paper, would create issues for any team. However, as of late, one part of the Sixers’ dynamic duo hasn’t looked all that dynamic.

The big question for the Sixers when they made the blockbuster trade for Harden always revolved around how he’d look in the postseason. Through the early portion of his career, he has had trouble playing at a high level in the playoffs. His game simply doesn’t translate all that well.

The hope is that is different this year but his efficiency is already beginning to tail off for the Sixers over the past few weeks and he was already having somewhat of a down season since his days in Brooklyn.

I don’t predict things will get any better for Harden in the postseason.