The 10 Most Important Momentum-Building Things the Sixers Can Do Now
A lot to tidy up until the big dog returns.
10. Find out if Robert Covington is still with us
Half-kidding here but seriously – it sounds like they’re not “lying” in the traditional sense, but Roco’s knee might be worse for wear than initially thought. It’s all hands on deck for the playoffs – and on a lesser scale, he is a guy who you want back hopefully before season’s end, to get him reacclimated to live action.
9. Get back to being tough
This is more philosophical I suppose, but they just haven’t been as tough as they were earlier in the season, even sans Embiid games. Kyle Lowry will help with a ton of that, especially the diving for loose balls, taking charges, etc. Shit that he’s so good and annoying at.
8. Shoot the rock WAY more
Bottom 10 in the league in three-point attempts per game. Has never cut it, won’t ever cut it.
7. Get better at the little things
This can be a 2018-2022 redux but honestly, one iteration of this team has to get and be better at the little things. I just once want the Sixers to be the ones on the positive end of the back-breaking floor board (Marc Zumoff whatup legend) that leads to the transition dunk in a swing game 4.
6. Figure out Bball Paul
He can help, he will help, he just needs them to believe.
5. Keep Oubre engaged
Completely different ballplayer when he’s locked in and asked to do things on the court. However, that does not mean he can successfully execute said things. But he does try like hell.
4. Steal two tough ones
Schedule makers did them no favors for this upcoming stretch, but catching two toughies off guard wouldn’t be impossible – they just have to be ready to pounce when the chance presents itself.
3. Make Sure Mad Max’s Head Is Right, In Both Senses
Been a long month for Tyrese and he’s dealing with a ton. Always good to make sure your young All-Star is thriving in all facets.
2. Tell Embiid to keep pep-talking Tobias
Whatever it takes.
1. Get and stay healthy
Sometimes it’s that simple and for this team it really is, if they are their healthy October selves, it’s a scary sight, let’s just hope they can get to that.
MIKE’S CORNER - WE FINALLY HAVE SOME SMART GUYS
Every week, Spike or Mike will write a column here about something they care about. This week is Mike’s turn, and he's explaining why he appreciates the Sixers having a pair of veterans who are actually more smart than dead.
In my years as an armchair draft analyst who would trade for the entire second round (and has a better record than at least a third of NBA franchises), I've vacillated between looking for guys who either:
1. Are above average at everything
2. Have one translatable elite skill
Usually that One True Skill is shooting, or rim protection, or whatever. But what I most enjoy looking for at the college level is the ability to react quickly with body and mind, and make that decision at such a rate that a player gives themselves a competitive advantage over everyone else on the floor.
Reading and destroying a passing lane. Judging an o-board carom and beating everybody to the spot. Making a heady cut that opens up a passing or driving lane for a teammate. You already know the players leaguewide I'm thinking of: Josh Hart & Derrick White (both taken after Colangelo traded up for Pasecniks, never forget). Bruce Brown & Grant Williams. Jaime Jaquez & Herb Jones. The Thompson twins. Mike Guys all. Marcus Smart and Draymond Green if you want to veer to the more Chaotic Evil corner of this region.
Prior to this season, the last dude the Sixers had with the combination of basketball IQ and a body agreeably agile enough to still carry out the instructions of the brain was Jimmy. A guy who just always seems to be in the right place. A "this motherfucking guy" guy.
Now the Sixers have two: Nico Batum and Kyle Lowry. Even if they don't have the quick twitch athleticism of their youth, they still have enough left in the tank to execute the quick twitch synapses of their brain. It is a god dang breath of fresh air seeing Batum make a weird cut from the wing to the nail then making himself available until Tobias recognizes he's there. It is positively relaxing having Lowry back on defense to bait a lackadaisical offensive player into bringing the ball low so he can slap down on it. Or sprinting like a freak to capitalize on an advantage that he was the first to spot. Stepping in to take a help charge. Tapback rebounds. Entry passes!!!! (Last two both particular Batum specialties.) Every trip down is a clinic.
I've never adhered to the idea that a team simply needs veterans. *Good* veterans, sure. But having a 36-year-old in a jersey doesn't inherently improve chemistry or ropes-showing. Lowry (37) and Batum (35) are the right kinds of vets, because they serve as the connectors on a team built into the orbit of Joel Embiid. Embiid needs guys to get him the ball in the right spot. Make the right read on a cut. Hit an open shot off the catch. Take some of the organizing pressure off Maxey in the halfcourt. Play solid, reasonably switchable defense. Those two do all of that. A bunch of the other rotation guys don't any of it.
Bad Tobias is showing his warts like he's wearing a sheer suit to a red carpet. Oubre has his strengths, but his better angels are sometimes bound and gagged by his inner Nick Young. BBall Paul occasionally cedes control of his limbs to an emissary from an alien planet. Melton and Covington need to blow on the cartridge and restart the season. Buddy and Maxey are secondary offensive engines that will only properly hum if the Generator From Silo is there to do all the hard stuff.
That's what Lowry and Batum can bring to this team at full strength. The quick-drying caulk that seals everything up.
Obviously nothing matters without Joel. But even healthy, he's struggled against teams (Boston, Miami, NWO Nick Nurse) during playoff time when there's length & gifted processors in the other huddle. My belief is that these two heady vets will help even that up a bit. There's a reason why Embiid-Batum lineups were some of the best in the league. Knee Gods willing, I'm incredibly excited to see what can happen when Lowry is added to that picture. Because in this Fuckboy Sixers Era, it'd be nice to be the ones in the playoffs outthinking teams for a change.
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