J.J. Redick showed his leadership in the Philadelphia 76ers’ game one win over the Heat. The $23 million man’s shooting earned the team a 1-0 series lead.
A lot went right for the Philadelphia 76ers in their game one win over the Miami Heat in the first round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs. The Sixers won their first playoff game since 2012, blowing out the Heat en route to a 130-103 home win.
Since Ben Simmons, Dario Saric, Robert Covington, Markelle Fultz, and other important players never played a playoff game, Brett Brown needed his veterans to step up. Ersan Ilyasova, Marco Belinelli, and Amir Johnson all contributed greatly, but J.J. Redick‘s efficient performance stood out above the rest.
The Duke product showed why his team pays him the highest single-season salary in franchise history. He hung 28 points in 31 minutes of action, shooting 8-13 from the field, 4-6 from three-point range, and 8-8 from the line.
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Aside from his high-scoring effort, the ex-Clipper led the team emotionally by pumping up his teammates after big shots and confronting the referees when he thought they did a bad job, which happened often in that game. His emotional intensity helped the Sixers build their lead in the second half, where they outscored the Heat 74-43.
With 89 playoff games under his belt, Redick proved that his experience will be a vital component to the Sixers’ playoff run, no matter how far they get in a confusing Eastern Conference playoff picture.
His experience made Bryan Colangelo pay him $23 million for one year, and if Redick remains at this high level of play after an up-and-down regular season, Colangelo’s big investment will pay off.
Joel Embiid‘s outgoing personality and sense of humor make him the usual leader of the team, while Ben Simmons’ ability to make his teammates better has him play the role of the leader by example. Redick fits in as the seasoned veteran, but his passion for the team and the game gives him the aura of a highly-motivated young player.
Well, Redick still does not have a championship ring after 12 NBA seasons, and he must believe that this Philadelphia 76ers team has enough talent to help him acquire that evasive piece of jewelry.
The guard may not sustain the amazing shooting he displayed in game one, but if his passion and intensity remain high throughout the playoffs, the Sixers may become a problem for the rest of the field.