What to Look for in Sixers’ Preseason Action
At approximately the 5-minute mark of the 1st quarter, James Ennis and Matisse Thybulle walked to the scorer’s table to check in to the game. In years past, this would automatically have been the point for Joel Embiid to exit the game for the first time.
Center City
For a moment, one was left to wonder who the pair were checking in for. Logic suggested perhaps Josh Richardson and Tobias Harris. But then the whistle blew and out went Joel and Richardson. Were the Sixers going to play small? Who would play center? And then came the realization that it would be Al Horford. Not Boban, not Amir Johnson, not Jonah Bolden, but Al bleeping Horford.
My, how times have changed.
Finding J.J.’s Threes
The Sixers will undoubtedly miss the historic level that J.J. Redick knocked down catch-and-shoot three-pointers. Last season, J.J. hit these at a 42% rate. But the first preseason game provided a road map for how the Sixers may make up J.J.’s three-point production in the aggregate.
The trio of Al Horford, Josh Richardson and Matisse Thybulle (all players who were not here last year) knocked down a combined seven catch-and-shoot 3 pointers. Granted, too much should not be read into performances against an overmatched Chinese Basketball League team. However, Horford hit these at a 36% rate last year and Richardson checked in at 39%. Additionally, Thybulle knocked them down consistently in the summer league. These Sixers clearly do not have a J.J. Redick-level three-point shooter. But if three elite defenders can hit them at 75% to 80% of the J.J. proficiency, the Sixers should be more than fine.
Young Wing Flying High
Matisse Thybulle has clearly separated himself in the young guy wing competition. Thybulle received regular rotation minutes throughout the first half, while Zhaire Smith and Furkan Korkmaz stayed firmly rooted to the bench. A few weeks ago, Thybulle commented that he knew what his role was, play D and hit threes. Thybulle looked very much ready to do that. He moved effortlessly on defense and his three-point shot looks like a three quarter size version of teammate Al Horford’s. If Thybulle can provide that 3 and D dimension, he will be a very important rotational piece. It will be interesting to see how quickly he can consistently replicate his performance against NBA-level competition.
Where in the World is Zoo?
Sixer play-by-play legend Marc Zumoff apparently “had the night off” for the preseason opener. In his place, the Sixers tried sideline reporter Serena Winters. Winters does a generally competent job in her typical role on the Sixer sideline. While she lacks some of the hokie lovability (probably never going to call Joel Embiid “Big Boy”) that her predecessor Molly French possessed, she appears more knowledgeable than French and has a good grasp on the comings and goings of the team. All that said, Winters clearly does not possess the voice or presence to carry a play-by-play broadcast. By the start of the 2nd quarter, mute buttons were in order. Get back soon, Zoo.
This…
Words cannot really do justice to the doors that will open for both Ben Simmons and the Sixers as a whole if this can be done with any modicum of consistency. Notice where the defender is when Ben rises up for the shot. This is not atypical of where NBA defenders generally position themselves when covering Simmons. If defenses are forced to engage him a step outside the three-point line, Ben’s game has a chance to move well beyond the All-Star level where it currently resides.
Featured Image: inquirer.com
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