Philadelphia 76ers: J.J. Redick is hitting his stride at the right time
The Philadelphia 76ers’ sharpshooter is breaking his slump in timely fashion.
Despite four All-Star caliber talents in the starting lineup, the Philadelphia 76ers rely heavily on J.J. Redick‘s unique skill set to power their offense. His constant movement and three-point shooting are staples of Brett Brown’s system, with several plays designed with Redick in mind.
That’s why his recent slump was such a concern. For all his negatives, Redick has the innate ability to stress and contort opposing defenses. His gravity causes fits, whether he’s flying around screens or setting them. He unlocks opportunities for the Sixers’ star creators.
When he’s slumping, Redick’s value diminishes quite a bit. Defenses still treat him with tremendous respect, but normally effective possessions get bogged down when Redick can’t convert on his typical shot attempts.
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After the All-Star break, Redick’s sluggish start was naturally tied to Joel Embiid‘s absence. The 7-foot-2 center does help Redick quite a bit, setting strong screens and thriving in the two-man game. During Embiid’s eight-game hiatus, Redick shot just 29 percent on 7.8 three-point attempts per contest.
Since Embiid’s return, the numbers have trended back toward the mean. He’s shooting 55 percent on 8.0 attempts in the five games after Embiid’s triumphant display against Indiana. The final game in that stretch, however, was Tuesday’s win in Charlotte — a game Embiid missed.
Redick shot 7-14 from deep, scoring 27 points while grabbing a career-high 10 rebounds. His eight assists weren’t bad either. It was one of Redick’s best games this season, and it came with Embiid sitting at home in Philadelphia.
Shooters have slumps. It’s a natural progression and regression, no matter how gifted the marksman. Stephen Curry has slumps. Klay Thompson began the season in the worst slump of his career.
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In due time, however, things always turn around. Someone with Redick’s dedication and shooting chops doesn’t stick in the mud for an extended period of time. He was always going to heat up, and now he’s heating up at the ideal time.
The Sixers are riding a five-game win streak into Wednesday’s showdown with the Boston Celtics. A win would give the Sixers a four-game lead over their rivals in the Eastern Conference standings, while also bolstering their lead over Indiana. The No. 3 seed would be all but locked up.
Redick has struggled in previous matchups with Boston, dating back to last postseason. His defense becomes especially problematic in that setting. Even so, it’s partially due to missed shots. If Redick carries his normal offensive load, the Sixers have a good chance to pull out the victory.
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It’s also a positive to see Redick getting hot before the playoffs. If the Sixers are going to make a legitimate Finals run, all five starters (and the bench) need to produce up to par. The Sixers have the most talented starting five outside Golden State, and Redick plays a sizable role in their success.