Stephen A. Smith Slams James Harden for ‘Awful’ Game 7 Performance

• Stephen A. Smith has ripped James Harden after his poor Game 7 performance
• Harden scored only nine points as the Philadelphia 76ers were eliminated from the playoffs by the Boston Celtics
• Harden failed to score in the last three fourth quarters vs. the Celtics

Stephen A. Smith was livid about James Harden's performance for the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 7 against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Harden scored only nine points against the Celtics as they bowed out of the postseason following a 112-88 defeat.

His 45-point performance in Game 1 silenced some of his doubters, but all the confidence in the 2018 MVP dissipated following a dismal Game 7.

The 33-year-old shot 3-of-11 from the field on Sunday afternoon, including 1-of-5 three-point range, dishing out seven assists while committing five turnovers.

The 10x All-Star scored zero points in the last three fourth quarters against the Celtics. He took six shots in the fourth quarter of Games 5-7, fewer than he took in the final period of Game 1, per CBS Sports.

New York Knicks collapse in second half as Miami Heat take Game 1

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Harden always performs in the playoffs, but his track record down the stretch in elimination games puts a dent in his Hall of Fame career.

Smith blasts Harden

After the game, Harden and MVP Joel Embiid were not spared from criticism.

Popular ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith did not hold back when dissecting his Game 7 performance.

“James Harden was so awful, so bad, he should actually shave his beard so he can hide his identity. That’s how bad he was. It was really, really bad. I say that in all seriousness. I’m not joking. I worked in Philadelphia for 17 years ... it would be difficult for him to walk the streets. You don’t do what you saw him do on Sunday afternoon in a Game 7,” via SI.

This summer, Harden can either opt into his $35.6 million player option for next season or decline it and become an unrestricted free agent, per ESPN.

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Embiid's challenge to 76ers teammates

Sports Brief earlier reported on newly-crowned MVP and 76ers superstar Joel Embiid challenging his teammates to improve next season.

The Sixers exited the playoffs in the second round for three seasons in a row.

The last time they reached the conference finals was in 2001, during the Allen Iverson days. The 2001 MVP led the Sixers to the NBA Finals, but they lost in five games to the Lakers.