Joel Embiid’s absence is going to ask some serious questions of James Harden’s superstar status, namely whether the 2018 MVP can still carry a team — and whether he’ll be worth a record-breaking contract this summer.

The outlook isn’t good: In the Sixers’ Game 1 loss without Embiid (concussion), Harden turned the ball over five times and scored 16 points on 13 FGA. 

Harden’s expected to opt into the final year of his deal, which is worth $47.3 million next season. After that, he’s eligible for a four-year, $223 million contract ($55.8M AAV).

But as he continues the downward trend that began in Brooklyn — which his trade to Philadelphia was supposed to reverse — any team should think twice about a long-term commitment.

• Harden’s 18.6 PPG this postseason are his lowest since 2011-12.
• His regular-season averages (22 PPG, 15.3 FGA) were his lowest since 2011-12 — and his 41% FG was his lowest since 2009-10.
• With Philly, he’s averaging fewer points, rebounds, steals, FGA, and FG% than he did in Brooklyn — despite playing more.
• In 27 games with the Sixers, Harden has yet to attempt 20 shots in a game. He attempted at least 20+ FGA in 306 games prior to the trade.

Some reports indicate that Embiid might return for Game 3 or 4 if he’s cleared, but it might be too late if The Beard doesn’t get back to his old ways.

Philadelphia can technically avoid the long-term commitment by only signing him for one year, but if not, he could become the first $60 million player at 37.

The Hurricanes’ homegrown core has kept them competitive all season — and is now leading a playoff charge for an organization that has thrived on young, low-cost talent.

Rookie center Seth Jarvis opened the scoring in Monday’s 5-1 dismantling of the Bruins in Game 1, finishing the evening with a goal and an assist. The 20-year-old has now recorded at least one point in eight consecutive contests.

Jarvis is just the latest success story for a Carolina franchise betting on youth — and keeping the team’s cap hit low in the process.

• Jarvis’ and Martin Necas’ entry-level contracts carry 2021-22 cap hits of just $894,167 and $863,333, respectively.
• Sebastian Aho holds the largest 2021-22 cap hit ($8.5M) on the team after the Canes were forced to match an offer sheet from the Canadiens in 2019 — but it’s still just the 33rd-largest hit in the league this season.
• Andrei Svechnikov, the No. 2 pick in 2018, accounts for $7.8M of cap space — second on the team but 52nd in the NHL.
• Jaccob Slavin is the Canes’ highest-paid defender at a $5.3M cap hit — which is 49th among all NHL defensemen.

Impressively, Carolina drafted each of these stars — the oldest (Slavin) just turned 28.

Though experience often wins the day in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the young Hurricanes are impressive, and sportsbooks are taking notice: Carolina currently has the sixth-best odds (+900) to win it all.

The Reds haven’t invested much on the field lately — so it’s no surprise they’re off to the worst start in the 141-year history of the franchise.

On Monday, Cincinnati lost its sixth game in a row, beginning the season at 3-19 — the worst start by any MLB team since 2003 (Tigers, 3-25). With one win in their last 18, the Reds are already 11.5 games back of the first-place Brewers in the NL Central.

Cincy spent $52.4 million this offseason — the fifth-lowest in MLB — and a combined $14.8 million on one-year deals to free agents Tommy Pham ($7.5M), Donovan Solano ($4.5M), Hunter Strickland ($1.83M), and Colin Moran ($1M). 

The Reds maintain the 10th-lowest MLB payroll ($116M) — and in return, they’re awful in just about every statistical category.

• Pitchers are 30th in team ERA (6.15), WHIP (1.63), and opponent batting average (.225).
• Batters are 30th in slugging (.311) and OPS (.582) and 29th in average (.201) and OBP (.271).
• The Reds’ minus-65 run differential is 30 runs worse than the 29th-place Royals.

It is a sad state of affairs for a team that has the sixth-most wins in MLB history (10,716). 

Things don’t get any easier for Cincinnati as it opens a three-game set in Milwaukee on Tuesday. After losing their previous 10 road games, the Reds are 2-12 away from home.

And the punchline? Ken Griffey Jr. — who remains on the Reds’ payroll despite retiring in 2010 thanks to a nine-year, $112.5 million extension he signed in 2000 — will be the sixth-highest-paid Red in 2022.