For Joel Embiid, James Harden and the 76ers, it's go time

Since the NBA All-Star break, the Philadelphia 76ers have kickedit into an extra gear.

With a record of 8-3 since that point, they have ripped off sixstraight wins and are only one game back of the Boston Celtics forsecond place in the Eastern Conference. Despite inconsistentdefensive efforts at the beginning of the month, the team hasscored at least 112 points in each of its eight March contests.

Translation: The offense is rolling.

The consistency that this Sixers' offense isoperating at right now is truly absurd.This stretch includes the #1 defense, #3 defense, and #6 defense inthe league. pic.twitter.com/y8epwrbUZl

— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) March 16, 2023

Reason No. 1? Joel Embiid.

On Wednesday evening in Cleveland, just before his March 16birthday, the now-29-year-old fittingly celebrated with yet anothercommanding performance to continue the downright dominant stretchhe’s on.

Sure, he might've gotten away with a momentum-shifting charge(that he feels was the correct overturned call), but does thatreally change the fact that there were no answers for hisgame?

It’s not just the Cavs who felt the hurt (36 points, 18rebounds, 4 blocks and 3 assists to be specific). Typically thiswriter is not somebody who says check the box scores, but CHECK THEBOX SCORES:

March 12 vs. Wizards: 34 points, 8 rebounds, 4 blocks, 4assistsMarch 10 vs. Blazers: 39 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3blocksMarch 7 at Wolves: 39 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3blocksMarch 6 at Pacers: 42 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 1blockMarch 4 at Bucks: 31 points, 10 assists, 6 reboundsMarch 2 at Mavericks: 35 points, 8 rebounds, 2 stealsFeb. 27 vs. Heat: 27 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assistsFeb. 25 vs. Celtics: 41 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, 3blocksFeb. 23 vs. Grizzlies 27 points, 19 rebounds, 6 blocks, 6assists

“I've yet to see the scheme that has stopped Joel Embiid,whether it's double teams, triple teams,” Cavaliers head coach J.B.Bickerstaff said before Wednesday’s loss to Philly.

“When he has the ball in his hands, I mean, he's extremelydifficult to deal with because of the pressure he can put onindividuals, but (also) how crafty he is in playing in smallspaces. I think he's shooting close to 14 free throws a game sincethe All-Star break. And that's because it is so crowded and he doessuch a great job of maneuvering and moving the ball to createcontact and draw fouls.”

That’s what Embiid does. He imposes his will with brutestrength, draws multiple bodies and operates from there. When heisn’t getting doubled, he is patient with his dribble and can hurtanybody with the pull-up mid-range game. He can also shoot over thetop of your doubles and go with the old-school, back-to-the-basketgame to force his way into the paint.

7'0" 280 LBS & these handles!HBD (MVP?) Joel Embiid pic.twitter.com/G11IVG8Q52

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) March 16, 2023

And if that’s not enough, there’s James Harden — who’s havingarguably his cleanest and most efficient season since his Houstondays — working the high pick-and-roll with him in the pocket, wherethe 7-foot, 280-pound monster of a man can catch the ball andtiptoe around defenders with the gliding finesse of a smallguard.

“That’s why he’s one of the best bigs to ever play the game. Idon’t think we’ve seen a big like it — well, I haven’t,” Hardentold Basketball News after Philly’s 118-109 win in Cleveland. “Hecan handle the ball, he can shoot it, he can be powerful when youneed him to be.

“So I’m just grateful he’s on my team, that we’re on the sameteam. But just trying to find ways every single game to make hisjob easier, to make our job easier, and he’s doing a great job ofleading us."

Embiid told Basketball News that it’s as simple as beingaggressive.

“My mindset is always to score first, and there’s nothing wrongwith that. If I get doubled, I’m gonna pass it. It’s all aboutmaking the right plays,” Embiid said. “It’s not so much about justscoring the ball and passing. It’s about just making the rightplays, and I think that’s where the game has really sloweddown.

“(I’m) just trying to take advantage of what’s given to me. Acouple plays, they hard doubled me, and that’s something I’ve seena lot, whether it’s Toronto… a lot of teams try to do the samethings, but it’s something that I’ve figured out and you’ve justgotta keep making the right plays.”

There’s just something about the pairing of Harden and Embiidthat clicks. When you have a ball-handler with the former’spatience and the latter’s ability to toggle between when to use hisstrength and when to use his touch, there’s little opposing squadscan do to stop it. Throw in the way the two get to the line, andthe task gets taller.

"I was with James for four years in Houston, and he's a masterat manipulating the rules, and Joel does the same," Bickerstaffsaid. "So you have to be extremely disciplined, but even then, theyfind a way to create that contact and draw a foul."

Harden is enjoying the hottest three-point season of his careerat 39.6% from distance, and it’s been a consistent shot the wholecampaign. (Post-injury, he’s been even better.) He’s leading theNBA with 10.8 assists per game too, and over his last five contestshas dished out almost 13 dimes a night, including a 20-assistperformance in Indiana. Engineering one of the hottest offenses inthe league on a nightly basis deserves just as much recognition asEmbiid.

Correct decisions and impeccable timing have staples of thisincredible one-two punch, but what does it look like when bothstars are at their best?

“Trouble for the other team, ‘cause we’re scoring the ball andthen you’re getting the other guys involved, just dominating thegame,” said Harden, who vouched for Embiid as MVP following hisgame-winner vs. Portland a week ago. “And if we can do that as manytimes each quarter and then each game, then it’s gonna be tough forteams to beat us.”

“I don’t think I’m at my best yet. I think I’m trending towardsthat. I think I’ve got a lot more to give,” Embiid said.“Defensively, I’m getting there. I’m getting back to myself.Usually, I take another step in the playoffs. The last couplegames, (it’s) been a huge focus for me, especially since All-Starbreak. So like I said, I’ve got a long way to go, but gettingbetter every single day. And for him, same thing. Try to get betterevery single day. But it’s not about just us, it’s about the team.It’s about, ‘How do we bring everybody together to make sureeverybody’s successful?’”

(Special shout out to Tyrese Maxey, who's been terrific sincereentering Philly's starting five. He shows no lack of confidencewhen receiving the ball in the half-court, speeds down the floor intransition and puts daggers in opposing fans' hearts.)