As Sixers struggle to find silver lining, Kelly Oubre’s grit and effort stand out
Oubre created a spark for the Sixers against the New York Knicks, slotting into the frontcourt and fighting for rebounds.
Kelly Oubre Jr.’s job was to provide the 76ers with a lift, with a spark, with something in their time of need.
Caleb Martin and KJ Martin remained sidelined because of injuries and Guerschon Yabusele started another game at center. So the Sixers were, once again, depleted at the forward position during Wednesday’s 125-119 overtime loss to the New York Knicks.
Oubre had to slide to the frontcourt from his usual shooting guard position. And he delivered in a big way, scoring 16 points on 7-for-11 shooting to go along with 10 rebounds, two steals and one block in his fifth double-double of the season.
» READ MORE: Sixers push Knicks to OT, but Jalen Brunson’s 38 points too much to overcome in 125-119 loss
The loss dropped the Sixers to 15-24 and marked their seventh loss in nine games. Despite their current slump, Oubre summoned a defensive intensity that stood out more than his 63.6% field-goal shooting.
“It’s just kind of getting back to the basics,” he said. “I could speak for myself, like it’s bread and butter for me. If things around me are out of control, then I know I can focus on my energy and my effort on the defensive end.
“And the whole premise of the game is to try to stop the other team from scoring. So that kind of gives me extra motivation, especially if we have our lapses and things like that.”
Defense has always been key for the 6-foot-8, 203-pounder. He knows in order to be competitive, the Sixers must limit opponents’ possessions, second-chance baskets and transition opportunities.
“At the end of the day,” he said, “if we’re still trying to figure out our rhythm and flow on offense, we have to get stops.”
And Oubre is helping to do that.
He’s second in the NBA in overall deflections (151) and deflections per game (4.2). The 29-year-old was also tied for 14th in the league in steals (1.5 per game) going into Thursday’s games. Oubre had a career-high eight steals in the Sixers’ 125-103 road victory over Portland Trail Blazers on Dec. 30.
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On Wednesday, his rebounding helped to keep the Sixers in the game. If not for his stellar play on the boards, the Knicks would have won the rebounding battle by more than their 45-35 margin.
“We need them,” Oubre said. “You hear the fans sitting courtside, everybody watching the game, ‘Rebound, rebound.’ So I’m just like, ‘Alright, let me just go in there and crash.’
“But at the end of the day, just like extra possessions, I’m trying to give [us] a chance to score or to make something happen out there.”
Oubre did that on Wednesday and has done it throughout the season.