Alec Burks Offers Solution to Life Without Ben Simmons
As the Sixers prepare for their first-round playoff match against the Boston Celtics, they will look for many players to step up with the injury to Ben Simmons.
While many looked to players such as Shake Milton and Josh Richardson to take on much of the burden left by the All-Star Simmons’ absence, backup point guard Alec Burks has surprisingly filled the void better than any other.
Since Simmon’s injury against the Wizards, Alec Burks has averaged over 20 points in the games he’s been active in.
Alec Burks offers something the Sixers have been severely lacking this year, an impressive three-point shot and the ability to get such shot opportunities off the dribble.
Burks’ ability to do so causes the opposing defense as a whole to expand outward to limit his space, all the while leaving the paint much more open for the Sixers talented big men to thrive. Joel Embiid will dominate offensively down low with his superior size and strength, while Al Horford will be able to crash the boards with much more success with the increased spacing.
Photo: Jesse D. Garrabrant/2020 NBAE
Along with the ability to create a shot off the dribble, Burks is thriving in Sixers pick plays, whether it be a Catch-and-Shoot 3-pointer off of a screen or acting at the ball handler off Pick and Rolls. Burks is easily the best at shooting off of screens since JJ Redick left for the Pelicans in Free Agency, and when running a Pick and Roll he opens up space for the screener to attack inside.
Starting Center and face of the franchise Joel Embiid will greatly benefit from this as he faces the pressure of playing a playoff series against a bitter rival in the Boston Celtics without fellow All-Star Ben Simmons.
The Sixers are 3-1 against the Celtics this year, with their only loss coming in the last match-up between the team back in the Pre-COVID era of the 2020 NBA Season. That loss came on February 1st, and just a few days later the Sixers would package 3 second-round picks for Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson.
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The move was at the time a last-ditch effort by the Sixers to improve their spacing by adding some shooting threats before the Trade Deadline.
Now that Burks appears to be a promising solution to the team’s spacing problems, as well as contributing to the success of the team in other areas, the Sixers should be expected to maintain their success against the Celtics this season and add four playoff wins to that 3-1 record.
Featured Image: Jesse D. Garrabrant/2020 NBAE
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