Philadelphia 76ers: 3 players that must step up in James Harden’s absence

Who needs to step up for the Philadelphia 76ers in James Harden’s absence? 

Before the start of the season, many believed that the Philadelphia 76ers would be the third-best team in the Eastern Conference. Behind the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics, the Sixers, with the moves that they made during the offseason, looked like a safe pick to finish third in the conference.

However, through the first couple of weeks of the season, the Sixers have been everything but that. The Sixers have not been the third-best team in the conference. In fact, they’ve lost more than they’ve won and find themselves at a bit of a crossroads at 3-4 through the first seven games.

And it has gotten much more complicated now that it’s been reported that James Harden is expected to miss at least a month with an injury.

Can the Philadelphia 76ers find themselves without James Harden?

The big question that the Sixers will be facing over the next few weeks is whether or not this team can get on the right track. And, at least for now, if they can do it, it will have to come without one of the best scorers in the game on their active roster.

It’s a shame that Harden will miss time for the Sixers as he’s had a relatively strong start to the year, averaging 22 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds per game.

Nevertheless, the Sixers will have to navigate the troubled waters without Harden. Who needs to step up with Harden sidelined? We explore three possibilities.