The bench has been the key to the Sixers’ three-game winning streak | Off the Dribble
Once near the bottom of the NBA, the Sixers have climbed to 23rd in bench scoring, averaging 33 points.
Good morning, Sixers fans. Off Thursday’s impressive 127-105 win in Chicago, the Sixers will look to complete a back-to-back sweep Friday in Washington against the Wizards.
If Joel Embiid continues to test negative for the coronavirus, he would be available Friday, while Ben Simmons isn’t able to return until Saturday.
Even without the two All-Stars, the Sixers had one of their most impressive wins Thursday, sparked by another strong performance from the bench.
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— Marc Narducci (offthedribble@inquirer.com)
Bench production
The Sixers bench has received its share of criticism this season, but during the current three-game win streak, the reserves have really stepped up.
The bench was at its strongest Thursday, simply because two normal bench players, Matisse Thybulle and seldom-used center Tony Bradley, were used as starters and the reserves were still dominant.
Here are the last three games and the bench results:
March 1: Sixers 130, Pacers 114. Bench scoring: Sixers, 67-47.
Shake Milton had a team-high 26 points and Furkan Korkmaz added 19 to lead the Sixers. It was the third time this year Milton has led the team in scoring off the bench. Korkmaz and Milton were a combined 9-for-18 from three-point range, and Indiana’s entire team was just 8-for-29.
March 3: Sixers 131, Utah 123 OT. Bench scoring: 35-35.
Having a standstill with the Jazz bench was like a victory. A little more than two weeks before that, the Jazz bench outscored the Sixers reserves, 57-25, in a 134-123 home win over Philly. In that game, Jordan Clarkson himself outscored the Sixers bench, 40-25. In the rematch, Clarkson was held to 10 points, shooting 3-for-10.
» READ MORE: Dissecting the Sixers’ victory over the Bulls | Podcast
March 11: Sixers 127, Chicago 105. Bench scoring: Sixers, 55-33.
Dwight Howard had a season-high 18 points, along with 12 rebounds, and Korkmaz added 16 points. Usually when the Sixers hold such a wide bench-scoring advantage, Milton has a big game, but he was limited to 10 points on 5-for-15 shooting. Two normal reserves, Matisse Thybulle and Tony Bradley, combined for 27 points, shooting 12-for-12 from the field, as starters.
Once near the bottom of the league, the Sixers are now 23rd in bench scoring, averaging 33 points, according to Realgm.com.
This is not to suggest that the Sixers won’t need upgrades by the March 25 trade deadline, but no matter what happens, one of the things Doc Rivers will look for in the second half of the season is more bench production, the type that has occurred over the last three games.
Starting five
The NBA shut down March 11 of last year, shortly after the Sixers beat the Detroit Pistons at the Wells Fargo Center. Keith Pompey takes a look at back at the shutdown, a year later.
Pompey writes that Sixers assistant Dave Joerger has deep appreciation for Rivers’ feel for the game and coaching methods.
If the Sixers aren’t able to acquire Kyle Lowry, David Murphy offers some other options.
The Sixers’ G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, lost in the league championship game, but the development of players such as Paul Reed was a plus.
Pompey reports that Tobias Harris and Howard were named finalists for the U.S. Olympic team.
Long-range shooter
When the Sixers visit the Wizards on Friday, they will have to contain 6-foot-10 forward Davis Bertans from long distance.
The last time these teams met in Washington, Bertans came off the bench to score 25 points and shoot 7-for-13 from beyond the arc in the Wizards’ 119-113 win on Dec. 5, 2019.
This season, he has come off the bench and hit four or more threes in nine games, including in both losses this season against the Sixers. Sometimes streaky, he shot 4-for-6 in the Wizards’ opening 113-107 loss on Dec. 23 and went 4-for-12 in a 141-136 loss on Jan. 6.
A career 40.7% three-point shooter, Bertans is shooting 38.6% this season. He is on a career-best 19-game streak of hitting two or more threes
Shooting sure pays off in the NBA. During the offseason, Bertans signed a 5-year, $80 million contract to remain with the Wizards.
Important dates
Friday: Sixers at Washington Wizards, 8 p.m., Capital One Arena, NBC Sports Philadelphia
Sunday: Sixers fans are back at the Wells Fargo Center — San Antonio Spurs at 76ers, 6:30 p.m. NBC Sports Philadelphia/NBA TV
Tuesday: New York Knicks at Sixers, 8 p.m., Wells Fargo Center, NBC Sports Philadelphia
Wednesday: Milwaukee Bucks at Sixers, 7 p.m., Wells Fargo Center, NBC Sports Philadelphia/ESPN
March 20: Sacramento Kings at Sixers, 8 p.m., Wells Fargo Center, NBC Sports Philadelphia Plus
Passing the rock
Question: Would it be better to go after a star player and lose depth or add 1 or 2 impact role players to add to our stars? — Isaac Jones on Facebook
Answer: That is an excellent question, Isaac. If the star player is Lowry, then I would be inclined to lose some depth and make the trade. Lowry is a player who could put the Sixers at least on par with Brooklyn, if not over the top.
The problem is that he has an expiring contract worth $30.5 million and if you acquired him, you would have to have a good indication he would re-sign, especially if you gave up key assets. The Sixers could also do well with bringing in lesser role players, but when a team has a chance to win a championship, I feel it has to go all-in.