3 observations after Sixers ignored Joel Embiid’s foul to beat Boston



[ad_1]

Nothing looks like a playoff game at the start of a contested NBA season during a pandemic, so it wouldn’t be accurate to call the Sixers’ victory over the Celtics on Friday night at all similar to the postseason.

It was nevertheless a high-intensity physical victory for the Sixers over an Eastern Conference foe, 122-110. Joel Embiid again led the Sixers with 38 points on an 11 for 15 shot and 11 rebounds.

After sweeping this mini-series against Boston, the Sixers are now 11-5 and first in the conference. They will play the Pistons on Saturday at 8 p.m.

Here are the observations on their victory on Friday:

Embiid’s Disorder, Frustration, and Dominance

Embiid opened the game in great shape, scoring five of the Sixers’ first seven points. He split a Boston doubles team with a nimble layup, hit a pull-up pull-up and converted one of two free throws after winning a trip to the line with a false pump that cheated Tristan Thompson.

Boston did draw a few early fouls on Embiid, however, the second of which came after he ventured out to defend a pick-and-roll with Kemba Walker and couldn’t lock the All-Star guard. Head coach Doc Rivers took no chances with Embiid’s fouls, calling on Dwight Howard to replace him with 5:34 left in the first period.

Unsurprisingly, the Sixers lost their lead early on when Embiid sat down and didn’t have much apparent goal or attacking energy outside of Shake Milton looking for opportunities to create shots. Howard was well below his best, committing two turnovers in the first quarter and missing a chance on a Matisse Thybulle check.

Turnovers weren’t exclusively Howard’s problem as the Sixers gave him away 12 times in the first half, including five offensive fouls. Embiid’s third foul with 1:24 left in the second quarter was one of them, and he wasn’t happy, snapping a water supply.

His frustration continued into the start of the third period as he felt the referees had missed several fouls against Daniel Theis. Rivers and the Sixers bench firmly agreed with Embiid, appearing in disbelief that their star didn’t hear whistles. Perhaps officials were aware of the tension between Embiid and Marcus Smart over “flailing” and not rewarding possible contact exaggerations.

“I feel like I could have gone to the free throw line 10 more times,” Embiid said. “I knew coming into the game, after they complained, I knew the refereeing was going to be a little tight for us and, I guess, better for them. Before the game I thought to myself and I said to my teammates: ‘They are I’m not going to give us anything but I’m going to call them. I was aggressive, which caused a lot of turnovers. I had too many for tonight. But I had to be aggressive just to make sure I score or hit the free throw line.

Howard has been outclassed several times in pick-and-roll defense, struggling to keep past the three-point line as the Sixers demanded their big men take a more aggressive approach. There’s a tricky middle ground with this pick-and-roll mode of cover between deterring ball handlers and not falling victim to their superior quickness, and Howard couldn’t find it.

To Howard’s credit, his game improved dramatically after his first stint. The Sixers actually extended their lead late in the third quarter with Howard in the game and Embiid out.

“It was huge,” Embiid said. “In previous years, when I was usually going to the bench, (there were) a lot of lost leads. It’s great that when the starters or I go to the bench, the guys on the pitch are able to keep up the pace. and move the head forward. It’s a welcome show and I love it.

For the most part, Embiid has done well in channeling his negative feelings about officiating into purposeful, dominant play. He chatted with Ben Simmons for a few minutes shortly before the start of the third trimester and also shared a few words in the new recovery zone at the end of the period, apparently wanting to be sure the two were on the same length of time. ‘wave. how exactly the team’s attack should go in the second half. With Celtics star Jayson Tatum still out after testing positive for COVID-19, Embiid would not let the Sixers waste this game.

Simmons produced at a very important time having served primarily as a facilitator for the first three quarters. Seven of his 15 points came just after the Celtics had a run in the fourth quarter to reduce the Sixers’ lead to 101-97. Simmons flipped into a chess, converted a layup and a steal and dunked.

A 25-point Simmons game would be great, sure, but his scoring isn’t at all a problem when the Sixers win and he makes winning plays.

“He does so much for this team,” Rivers said. “His winning formula is amazing. The last game he didn’t have any credit and it was so important to know why we won this game with everything he does – the little cuts, the little back picks, the throws and passes Ben does a lot.

“He can’t focus on one thing, like just focusing on the goal. He’s too good for that, for me. It would be a waste if that was all we were focusing on for him. “Did, is he went down tonight. more and finished in the basket. That’s what he needs to do, that’s what we’re working on.”

The Curry sweater is very good

Seth Curry returned to the field on Friday night, his first game since testing positive for COVID-19 on January 7. It clearly wasn’t as windy as it used to be, a predictable hurdle given that NBA health and safety protocols require any player. who tested positive for COVID-19 did not exercise for at least 10 days, but there was nothing wrong with his jumper as he made his first three attempts. All in all, the Sixers started a remarkable 9 for 9 from the floor.

In 27 minutes, Curry had 15 points on a 6 for 10 shot. His outside shots and his play are obviously important traits for the Sixers overall, as we saw in the 7-1 start of the season. ‘team. In reality, it will be some time before he returns to his physical peak, although it was a fairly smooth return.

“I was surprised,” Rivers said. “I never got to shoot. I guess when you can shoot you can shoot. I guess you can take 10 days or two weeks off and keep taking pictures. When the game started I was like, did this guy miss games? i was surprised how good he was shooting the ball and how good his pace was.

Milton, Thybulle, Furkan Korkmaz, Tyrese Maxey and Howard remained the second unit of the Sixers with Curry back in the mix. Maxey only entered the game when he was 9:17 left in the second quarter and only played six minutes in total. His game during Curry’s absence obviously didn’t lead Rivers to think he deserved an immediate raise in minutes. That said, the rookie is an obvious member of the Sixers’ rotation for the foreseeable future.

Thybulle, as he tended to do lately, made some breathless defensive plays. He blocked two Walker Cavaliers, recovering impressively to disrupt the Celtics’ guard.

Thybulle’s 21 minutes were the best of any player off the Sixers bench as he played the final 4 minutes and 32 seconds in place of Danny Green.

Harris an All-Star? If he keeps shooting like this …

Embiid said Tobias Harris “should be an All-Star” after Wednesday’s win, and Harris again backed up that early internal buzz with 23 points on a 10-on-12 shot on a night that improved his efficiency numbers already stellar. Harris entered the evening with nearly 50/40/90 shootouts.

The hallmark of his game at the start of the season is simplicity. In the rare few moments he tried an advanced dribble move or two on Friday and didn’t create any space, he mostly moved the ball towards an open teammate instead of forcing something difficult or complicated.

“We stay on him,” Rivers said. “Same in LA Just quick decisions. If you catch him, shoot him. If you catch him, drive him. If you dribble him, pass him. It’s pretty simple for him and when he stays in. this formula, it is incredible. It is a train going down, it has a beautiful photo.

“It’s when he hesitates and the guys get in on him is when he gets in trouble. He’s had a few tonight, but I love the way he plays, I love the confidence that he’s playing with. He’s also bouncing back this year for us. So he’s just doing a lot of things. He’s been awesome.

For most of Harris’ first 13 games this season, there hasn’t been much to say about his performance. It’s a better situation for the Sixers than worrying about Harris’ form, his role, or why he’s not playing the way he did in his best career streak with Rivers and the. Clippers.

[ad_2]

Source link