The Philadelphia 76ers have been impressed with Josh Richardson so far in Orlando.
The 2019-20 season has been a bumpy ride for the Philadelphia 76ers. Injuries, poor chemistry, and a general lack of team-building sense has left the Sixers in a difficult spot — contenders, yes, but not in the same vein as Milwaukee, Boston, or Toronto.
When the Sixers acquired Josh Richardson in the Jimmy Butler sign-and-trade last summer, the move was met with optimism. Richardson was never Butler — there were no illusions of that nature — but Richardson was a borderline All-Star on a hard-nosed Miami squad. If Butler wasn’t going to work, the replacement could have been a lot worse than the Heat’s reigning top player.
Richardson’s season has been riddled with inconsistency, keeping in step with Philadelphia as a whole. He has struggled to adjust to a new role — one that, at times, demands too much of him on-ball — and he has been further diminished by injuries. Most recently, he missed extended time to a hamstring injury.
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On the season, Richardson is averaging 13.8 points and 3.1 assists on 42.9 percent shooting. His success rate from beyond the arc — 32.7 percent — is a career low, which has only contributed to the Sixers’ shaky floor-spacing.
Even in a “bad” season, however, Richardson has brought a lot of necessary attributes to the table. His in-between game, his perimeter defense, and his willingness to take spot-up 3s (even if they’ve fallen at a below-league-average rate) have all benefitted the Sixers considerably.
The Sixers need Richardson to compete. He’s far more important to Philadelphia than he often gets credit for — so much so, we selected him as one of the Sixers’ three protected players when FanSided conducted its recent mock expansion draft.
At this point, Richardson’s status in the league has fallen. For a variety of reasons, he hasn’t commanded the same respect he once did in Miami. Now that he’s healthy and rested, perhaps Orlando is as good a place as any for Richardson to reassert himself.
Brown says Josh Richardson has been “outstanding” on defense at practice in Orlando so far, and that he’s “setting the tempo” for the group. Also says he was paired with Embiid in scrimmages today and he’s encouraged by their success in some pick and roll looks
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) July 16, 2020
The news out of Philadelphia’s bubble practices has been overwhelmingly positive so far, even if it’s curated mostly by Brett Brown, the players, and the PR staff. Joel Embiid appears fresh and reenergized, Ben Simmons is shooting 3s (?!), and according to Brown, Richardson has “ the tempo” in practices.
If anyone outside Simmons and Embiid can set the tempo, it’s Richardson. He’s one of the most disruptive defenders on the roster, and his contributions often mean the difference between stagnancy and proficiency on offense. The insertion of Shake Milton into the starting five will only help Richardson, as it takes a great playmaking burden off his shoulders. It will allow him to focus on his personal strengths, rather than focusing on the Sixers’ necessities.
Richardson has been one of the most vocal leaders on the roster this season. His motor runs hot, he’s a source of encouragement for teammates, and at the end of the day, he’s still a premier two-way wing in the NBA. He has a chance to remind folks of his talent in Orlando. It appears he’s starting on the right foot.