CHARLESTON, S.C. — As the Philadelphia 76ers prepare for the 2022-23 season, all eyes are on stars James Harden and Joel Embiid. The big fella is looking to build off an incredible 2021-22 season. Harden is looking to have a successful full season in Philadelphia.

As training camp continues at The Citadel in Charleston, the Sixers are looking to build chemistry. Harden only played 21 games with Philadelphia after the trade, and that is not enough time midseason for everyone and everything to mesh.

Given a full training camp together, coach Doc Rivers wants Harden and Embiid to dominate.

“We gotta get better,” said Rivers. “I mean, James was only here for 20 games. Even though, statistically, in the 24 games that we played, James and Joel were the No. 1 pick-and-roll combination, I think they have a long way to go. I think, as good as they were, if it was an eight, we can get that to a 10. I just think that combination should be absolutely dominant. I think it’s really good, but I think it should be dominant.”

The biggest thing Rivers wants Harden to understand is he doesn’t need to be the team’s leading scorer. He doesn’t have to take a guy off the dribble or do anything of that nature now that he’s playing with Embiid. This is the big fella’s team, and Harden just has to facilitate and make his teammates better.

“Then with James, we got to figure out for him how he can be James and how he can be a great facilitator, as well,” Rivers added. “James has never played with a guy in his life that is a better scorer or as good of a scorer, or being the second option. So, that’s something new for James.”

Rivers then described a moment in practice when Embiid and Harden ran a pick-and-roll as De’Anthony Melton switched onto Embiid and Harden didn’t get him the ball. He went 1-on-1 with Montrezl Harrell, and Rivers does not want that happening.

“Amount of years playing one way and now today (Wednesday) it happened,” the coach continued. “There was a switch and Joel was there. That ball’s got to get there. He’s got the small guy, but in the past, that may have been James told the guy, ‘Get out. I have an iso’. James had Trezz on him. Joel had De’Anthony. We’re throwing it to Joel, you know?”

This is what training camp is for. The Sixers need to work out all of the kinks, and this is where Embiid and Harden can continue to grow as a duo for this team to have success.

“As James says, eight out of 10,” Rivers finished. “Two of those times, James may be having it going or whatever, but that’s what they have to feel each other out. You can see them both not knowing what to do on that. So, those are the things that they will get better at.”

The Sixers have four more days left of training camp before opening the preseason schedule on Monday.