In the first half of the first game of the season, the Celtics hosted the Sixers, and James Harden looked like his old self. He was doing all the James Harden-y things that made him one of the greatest offensive creators ever and also one of the most annoyingly unwatchable elite players ever. On that October 18th night, he did his trademark rapid between-the-legs dribble that lulls defenders to sleep, allowing him to drive into the paint and find an open shooter or draw a foul. He scored 22 points in the first half, shooting 56 percent from the field and making eight free throws.
The best version of James Harden is not the Harden I fear the most
