Adam Aaronson, whose legal name is Sixers Adam (@SixersAdam on Twitter), covers the Sixers for The Rights To Ricky Sanchez. He believes cantaloupe is the best food in existence, and is brought to you by the Official Realtor of The Process, Adam Ksebe.
Last week, the Sixers hosted a young Houston Rockets team that they handled rather easily. Tonight, they traveled to Houston for a rematch on the Rockets’ turf. Here’s what stood out to me:
Pro: Joel Embiid’s torrid run continues
Embiid entered tonight’s contest averaging 31.2 points per game in his last 10 games. He’s averaged 11 free throw attempts per game during that span -- ironic, considering tonight he shot (and made) 11 free throw attempts in the first half alone -- and he’s accrued a phenomenal .663 true shooting percentage.
Embiid’s scoring hasn’t been the only dominant facet of his game, though: as has been discussed thoroughly in recent weeks, his passing looks the best it ever has, as does his overall composure and ball security.
Tonight, Embiid cashed in for 31 points on just 16 shots, including 23 points on 11 field goal attempts in the first half alone. He also grabbed eight rebounds and once again displayed his passing prowess, collecting six assists — all in just 26 minutes. And, as he typically does, Embiid dominated around the rim defensively.
Daniel Theis and the Rockets, like many other NBA teams, had absolutely no answers for Embiid. And tonight, Embiid took another step closer to the MVP conversation.
Pro: Charlie Brown Jr. turning heads
I didn’t expect Brown to get any real minutes after signing a 10-day hardship deal with the Sixers. But over the last few games, he’s been given a chance to impress, and he’s done exactly that, culminating in a performance tonight that was his best yet in a Sixers uniform.
What stands out most with Brown is his athleticism. The Sixers have had so few athletic wings in recent years, that Brown boasting a 6-foot-7 frame with obvious quickness and hustle makes him seem like an alien. He’s also got great hands that allow him to be disruptive on the defensive end, a trait he’s displayed throughout his brief Sixers tenure.
Unless they have more players entering the COVID-19 health and safety protocols in the near future, the Sixers may not be able to keep Brown in the fold for now. But he has unquestionably provided the team with some real value while on the 10-day contract.
Pro: Embiid and Matisse Thybulle’s budding connection
In a recent joint press conference, Embiid joked with Thybulle about how he wants the third-year defensive ace to become a more willing three-point shooter. Shooting has always been a weakness for Thybulle, but his willingness to launch from beyond the arc can make Embiid’s life easier when facing double-teams.
Thybulle knocked down multiple threes tonight, and looked considerably more confident in his offensive abilities. For the Sixers, this is the continuation of a promising pattern that has emerged recently.
Thybulle has scored at least 10 points in each of his last two games. He had scored in double-digits in only two of his previous 28 games this season.
So, what’s changed? Like most positive developments with this team, it all starts with Embiid. Not only has he encouraged Thybulle off the court, but he’s gone out of his way to form a partnership with him on the court.
Thybulle’s confidence as a shooter is not the only thing that has improved. Thybulle has become a much more adept cutter off the ball, which is a shrewd counter to defenses attempting to leave him uncovered so they can double-team Embiid. And Embiid has been deliberate in finding him for easy buckets.
When you’re trying to win a championship, things eventually boil down to “can this player survive in the playoffs?” And while the Sixers need Thybulle’s perimeter defense, his offense is so shaky that he isn’t a sure thing to be viable in all high leverage situations.
That’s why this developing partnership can be so important: it doesn’t just improve the team’s offense in the regular season -- by virtue of Thybulle being more reliable against great teams, it also strengthens the Sixers’ defense in the playoffs.