The Sixer Sense
Fansided

RECAP: Philadelphia 76ers 114, Detroit Pistons 78

By Alec Liebsch

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 5: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts in front of Luke Kennard #5 of the Detroit Pistons after JJ Redick made a three point basket and was fouled in the third quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on January 5, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Pistons 114-78. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 5: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts in front of Luke Kennard #5 of the Detroit Pistons after JJ Redick made a three point basket and was fouled in the third quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on January 5, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Pistons 114-78. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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Based the back-and-forth between Andre Drummond and Joel Embiid this season, this matchup was centered around them. The game ended up giving Philadelphia 76ers fans way more than that, though.

A blistering hot start, ignited by Ben Simmons‘ aggressiveness and players like Dario Saric actually making three-point shots (!!!), was just the tip of the iceberg Friday night.

In the first half, the Philadelphia 76ers made approximately 1,057 shots to go out to a crushing 62-32 lead through 24 minutes. Their lead, for once, was insurmountable.

Pistons dual coach/GM Stan Van Gundy, the human form of the “win now, rebuild never” plan for perpetual mediocrity that Sam Hinkie deliberately circumnavigated with The Process, probably had an in-game existential crisis.

In the third, the 76ers went an entire four-minute stretch without giving up a single point. The result was some trash talk from Drummond, resulting in a technical foul for his overrated self.

After four years of continually being on the receiving end of blowouts, most fans will have to double-take at this score before they truly understand it.

A-. 23 mins | 19 pts | 4 reb | 9 ast | 2 stl | 2 blk | 4 TO | 9-13 FG | 0-0 3PT | 1-1 FT | 4 PF | +16 +/-| <strong>Summary: </strong>Simmons had himself quite the efficient night at the rim, and the kick-out passes he made off drives actually resulted in buckets for once. If the support cast could do this on a more regular basis, Ben could get even <em>more</em> assists and driving lanes. Watch out, NBA.. PG. Philadelphia 76ers. BEN SIMMONS

A-. 25 mins | 23 pts | 9 reb | 0 ast | 0 stl | 1 blk | 1 TO | 9-16 FG | 1-2 3PT | 4-5 FT | 3 PF | +26 +/-| <strong>Summary: </strong>Embiid didn’t get into much of a battle with Drummond, but for once he didn’t need to. Despite the lack of spotlight, he still found ways to positively impact the game in ways only he can. His presence at the rim, as usual, deterred players from coming near it, forcing Piston after Piston to fire up brick after brick. In what seemed like his first game all season <em>not</em> being on the injury report, he was able to coast through this one with merely his season averages.. C. Philadelphia 76ers. JOEL EMBIID

21 mins | 11 pts | 6 reb | 3 ast | 0 stl | 0 blk | 1 TO | 4-10 FG | 2-4 3PT | 1-1 FT | 0 PF | +24 +/-| <strong>Summary: </strong>Dario “cooled off” tonight and regressed closer to his season averages. If he wants to coexist next to Simmons and Embiid, making threes off the catch is the way to do it. His counting stats won’t always jump off the stat sheet, but efficiency matters more in a complementary role.. F. Philadelphia 76ers. DARIO SARIC. B+

J.J. REDICK. A-. 24 mins | 21 pts | 2 reb | 3 ast | 0 stl | 0 blk | 0 TO | 6-11 FG | 3-8 3PT | 6-6 FT | 0 PF | +34 +/-| <strong>Summary: </strong>Tonight, fans saw the Redick they were all hoping for when the front office paid him $23 million. Spread the floor to open up passing and driving lanes for Simmons; that’s Redick’s duty, and he fulfilled it tonight. When he’s hot, he can infect the rest of the roster’s shooting totals as well; that also happened tonight. Hopefully this is more than a flash in the pan.. SG. Philadelphia 76ers

Philadelphia 76ers. ROBERT COVINGTON. A-. 24 mins | 11 pts | 5 reb | 0 ast | 1 stl | 0 blk | 1 TO | 4-6 FG | 3-5 3PT | 0-0 FT | 2 PF | +22 +/-| <strong>Summary: </strong>Most of Covington’s triples came in garbage time, but he needed a night like this to get back on track from beyond the arc. The value of Covington being able to spread the floor supersedes mere words, which is quite a statement considering his immense defensive value. Hopefully he keeps this up when important minutes come about next game.. F

If you could imagine a dream game for this unicorn-centric team, it would involve a lot of what the Sixers did tonight. Make shots, let Simmons and Embiid go to work, and win. For the first time in what seems like an eternity, a simple game plan like that can actually succeed.

Next: Will the Sixers target any 10-day contracts?

This makes four straight wins for the young Sixers, who have finally climbed back to .500 after a cold stretch that had everyone wanting Brett Brown fired. Rubbish.