The Philadelphia 76ers are ready for the real thing.
At first glance, the Philadelphia 76ers’ 1-2 record in their Orlando scrimmages is a red flag. For a team in desperate need of momentum, starting the renewed season on a losing foot is less than ideal. When you move past the record, however, it’s not difficult to feel optimistic.
The Sixers essentially won all three games when the starters were on the floor. It was neck-and-neck in the Dallas game, partly due to Philadelphia’s horrid shooting performance, but even a molasses-like start couldn’t keep the Sixers from taking a lead in the third quarter. In the Memphis and OKC games, it was never close.
You should never take away definitive conclusions from a few scrimmages, but it’s even more important to ignore the final score. The Sixers getting trounced with Marial Shayok on the floor has little bearing on how the Sixers will perform when the lights are bright and the lineups are concrete.
And so, the Sixers fandom should proceed with a great deal of excitement. Philadelphia’s first real game is August 1, only a few precious days away. It’s a game of great significance as well. The Sixers will play the Pacers for a head start on the No. 5 seed.
Here are the players who stood out most in the scrimmages who, ideally, will carry the momentum forward into regular season play.
5. Al Horford
I’m cheating a bit here, as the word “standout” typically has a positive connotation. But Al Horford stood out for reasons good and bad in the Sixers’ scrimmages, and he certainly deserves a mention on this list when you consider his importance to a hypothetical Philadelphia championship run.
Horford drew two starts in place of Joel Embiid, who played 10 minutes in the first scrimmage before calling it quits and looking ahead to the regular season. In those starts, Horford did a lot of good — especially on offense. He also struggled in a few key areas.
Offensively, this was the best we’ve seen Horford in many, many months. Even in the Memphis game, when he was at his dullest, the big man still managed five assists. Horford came alive from 3-point land in the final two scrimmages, shooting 6-for-11 in that span.
If Horford can start to space the floor more consistently, it will drastically improve his fit in the offense — especially when he’s forced to share the court with Embiid. Horford will never touch All-Star status again, but he’s still a smart, measured contributor who knows his spots offensively. A better jumper is a good sign.
As for negatives, Horford was a major weak point for the Sixers’ defense. Once billed as a defensive stalwart — heck, it’s why Philadelphia signed him in the first place — Horford has struggled to defend the rim all season. These scrimmages were no different.
In lieu of Embiid, Horford gave up several easy looks at the rim. The Sixers’ pick-and-roll coverage was subpar, and Horford’s agility seems to evaporate whenever he’s asked to contest a shot inside. He lacks the spryness that once defined him, and it’s difficult to watch.
4. Norvel Pelle
Across three scrimmages, no Sixer had a better performance relative to expectations than Norvel Pelle. In fact, there weren’t really any expectations for Pelle, who is currently situated as the third-string center behind Embiid and Horford.
Pelle was, however, a true standout, and his entertainment value already exceeds most players inside the bubble. The Sixers were treated to all the hallmarks of Pelle’s game — shot-blocking, rim-rocking excitation — without most of his weaker traits. This was some of the best basketball Pelle has played since arriving in Philadelphia.
He was far from perfect, but Pelle looked under control defensively in a way he hasn’t in the past. He totaled seven blocks across three games, and he managed to avoid foul trouble in the process. He did an excellent job of staying vertical, not gambling, and competently measuring up opponents at the rim.
In addition to his defensive exploits, Pelle was a solid contributor on offense as well. He made an effective pick-and-roll partner for Shake Milton and the like, he ran the floor hard in transition, and he even hit a spinning fade-away 3 in the first scrimmage. As a rim-runner who can get up and down the floor in a hurry, Pelle works exceedingly well in the Sixers’ more up-tempo lineup combinations.
Once the regular season begins, Pelle will go back to bench warming. And that’s fine. But he deserves a shoutout, and it’s clear Pelle can really play. He’s on contract through next season, and is much more of a third-string center than Amir Johnson or Greg Monroe ever were.
3. Matisse Thybulle
Matisse Thybulle continues to rack up steals and blocks while establishing himself as a positive force in the locker room. You could say he specializes in… stocks and bonds.
No Sixers reserve was more impressive than Thybulle in these scrimmages. While he still has a lot of room to grow offensively, it’s Thybulle’s defense that makes him too good to overlook. He’s well on his way to being the Sixers’ top wing off the bench when the games start to count.
As a rookie, Thybulle is probably the most disruptive defender in basketball — period. He creates havoc unlike anyone else, flying around the floor, poking his 7-foot wingspan into passing lanes, and constantly snuffing out ball-handlers. His quick hands are mesmeric on the ball, and off the ball, few players are more adept at rotating for blocks or deflections.
Thybulle’s ability to generate turnovers has been on full display in Orlando. And, for good measure, he managed 14 points in an impressive capstone performance against Dallas on Tuesday. The rook would benefit greatly from a more consistent jump shot, but his willingness to cut, relocate, and shoot open 3s has kept him out of actively harmful territory.
The Sixers have a trio of perimeter defenders in Thybulle, Simmons, and Richardson who specialize in creating turnovers, and by extension, scoring on the fast break. Simmons is the best transition playmaker in basketball, which makes Thybulle a natural partner in crime. That’s a duo — and maybe even a trio — we should expect a lot of down the stretch.
2. Tobias Harris
It’s time once again to acknowledge the inherently lopsided coverage of Tobias Harris. He will never live up to a five-year, $180 million contract. He’s not that dude. And while it’s important to acknowledge the contract, it’s also important to acknowledge Harris’ value beyond the contract.
Harris is essential to the Sixers’ success, due as much to his on-court production as his off-court persona. As a basketball player, Harris can shimmy and shake his way to in-between buckets the Sixers desperately need. He can exploit mismatches in the post, he can run the occasional pick-and-roll, and he can hit tough contested jumpers when the offense stalls.
In the Dallas game, it was Harris who spearheaded the offense when no one could make a shot. The Sixers started the game 5-for-30 from the field, and yet Harris — with some help from Horford — handed the Sixers a lead in the third quarter. Because of Harris, Philadelphia was on top when the starters sat.
28 points and 11 rebounds on 10-for-20 shooting was Harris’ final stat line against Dallas. He bullied Dorian Finney-Smith at the rim, hit several timely shots from mid-range, and buried a trio of 3s to help round out a productive night. He has done everything you want out of Harris in these scrimmages.
And, on top of his production on the floor, Harris has emerged as the soul and conscience of the Sixers roster. He’s leading the conversation around social justice, he’s leading pre-game huddles, and it’s abundantly clear that he’s the leading force keeping the locker room together.
Harris deserves a ton of credit for the job he has done in Philadelphia this season. Maybe the contract isn’t as bad as we all thought.
1. Ben Simmons
The scrimmages ended with more of a whimper than an exclamation point for Simmons, but it’s impossible to fault him. He built up plenty of goodwill with the fanbase in the first two games. In fact, against Memphis and OKC, Simmons was unequivocally the best player on the floor.
Brett Brown’s decision to move Simmons from point guard to power forward made waves in the news cycle before the scrimmages began. Evidently, the hype was well-earned, as Simmons thrived in his new role from the very get.
At 6-foot-10, Simmons has the speed and athleticism to make due anywhere on the court. By offloading initiation duties to Shake Milton, Simmons was able to receive the ball in new spots –from the elbow, in the post, or even in the corner. The result was a couple brilliant (and well-rounded) performances out of the 24-year-old.
Simmons posted near triple-doubles in the Sixers’ first two scrimmages, and it’s clear the move to power forward will diversify his playmaking opportunities, not limit them. Simmons was still able to get out in transition, and when stationed in the halfcourt, he was thoroughly productive. He has nice chemistry with Milton in the pick-and-roll, and his willingness to space to the corner should open up Philadelphia’s offense a great deal.
His only 3-point attempts came in the first game, but it wasn’t for lack of trying. Simmons continues to gravitate to the corners and spot up. With Embiid back in the post and commanding doubles, expect more Simmons 3-point attempts once the regular season restarts.
On both offense and defense, Simmons appears to be operating in top form. He looks healthy and he looks determined. Like someone who has bought into his new role, and someone who can help lead the Sixers to new heights when the games matter.