Sixers coach Doc Rivers echoes that Joel Embiid, James Harden pairing will ‘take time’

With Joel Embiid largely roaming the perimeter and being dominated on the boards, the 76ers center’s effort has been questioned in recent games. And that’s not all. Embiid’s lackluster pairing with James Harden has also been questioned.

“I just think it’s going to take time,” coach Doc Rivers said when asked how the pairing looked in practice. “Today was really our first live practice. But yeah, just them on the floor together is good.

“We actually did a lot of live stuff, which you don’t get a chance to do much in the regular season. So it’s good.”

While Rivers remains optimistic, Embiid and Harden have not spent much time together on the court and did not look good as a pairing in seven games together this season. Embiid has missed eight games because of a sprained left foot, the flu, and rest. Meanwhile, Harden returned in Monday night’s double-overtime road loss to the Houston Rockets after missing 14 games with a strained tendon in his right foot.

» READ MORE: Joel Embiid is terrific. But there’s still a level he needs to reach for the Sixers to be great.

The Sixers (12-12), who were off Tuesday and had a light practice Wednesday, should expect eyes to be fixed on Harden and Embiid during their game Friday at 7:30 p.m. against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Wells Fargo Center.

Part of the heightened focus on their stars is rooted in the Sixers’ record when both are available: 2-5. Those struggles could stem from their styles of play.

Harden, who thrives on isolation plays, is ball-dominant, while Embiid is at his best when the Sixers’ offense flows through him.

Despite that distinction, the Sixers have shared positive stories about Harden’s efforts to mesh with the group this week during practice.

“For us, getting everybody in here and having some practice days is important,” Tobias Harris said. “Like offensively for this group, [we need to be] running our stuff and figuring out ways that we can exert all options in the offensive package, playing with pace but using our defense to fuel getting out in transition and running.”

That’s where Embiid’s effort comes into play, as the perennial All-Star looks as if he has taken plays off during stretches of the game.

» READ MORE: The Sixers’ growing pains have hamstrung what was expected to be a promising season: ‘We just don’t execute’

Rivers was asked how he can get Embiid to play hard at all times.

“Well, to play at his pace every time is something we have to do,” Rivers said. “I think he’s doing it overall. Defensively, he goes in and out. Some of the most gifted offensive players, honestly [do it]. But we need him to be more dominant every night, defensively and offensively. But I think he will. When we get everybody back, I think it helps him.”

However, the 7-foot-2 center finished with only seven rebounds in 35 minutes before fouling out in during the first overtime of the loss to the Rockets. In that game, he had just one rebound in the first half.

“It happens,” Rivers said. “I mean, it does happen. No offense, it means he’s away from the basket.

“You know what’s funny, I didn’t watch that game and see that he wasn’t rebounding in the first half. I just saw that he didn’t have any rebounds.”

While Harden and Embiid gained valuable work, Rivers said the Sixers had only 10 available players for Thursday’s practice.

De’Anthony Melton (lower back stiffness) was taken out of practice. Danuel House Jr. (lacerated left foot), Georges Niang (sore right foot), and Tyrese Maxey (fractured left foot) all missed practice.

“It was just precautionary,” Rivers said of taking Melton out of practice. “Playing, for him right now, can’t be a lot of fun. ... Danuel had something cut on his foot, not surgery. I guess it’s always surgery if you are cutting. So, you know, he couldn’t put on his shoe until today.”

Niang will miss his second straight game on Friday, while Maxey will been sidelined for his ninth game. House is questionable.

Lakers standouts LeBron James (sore left ankle) and Anthony Davis (Non-COVID-19 illness) are probable, while Juan Toscano-Anderson (sprained right ankle) and Wenyen Gabriel (sprained left shoulder) will miss the game.