The Philadelphia 76ers went 2-0 in the preseason. What did we learn?
A short but successful preseason has stoked anticipation for an important Philadelphia 76ers season. After getting swept out of the Bubble in embarrassing fashion, the Sixers underwent significant changes in management and personnel. It’s a new era — potentially a more fruitful era.
While the preseason is no place for grand proclamations or sweeping generalizations, the Sixers did show us a fair amount of promise (as well as a few noteworthy weak points).
In wins over the Celtics and Pacers, we got out first taste of the new roster and of Doc Rivers’ coaching strategy. Here’s what we learned.
Sixers preseason takeaway #5: Matisse in the doghouse?
Again, it’s normally unwise to read too far into preseason games and preseason minutes. That said, Thybulle — who was essentially the Sixers’ top reserve last season — was Rivers’ 10th man against Boston, then got demoted to 11th man against Indiana. There’s a non-zero chance Thybulle is out of the rotation to start the season.
Thybulle never got much going in these games, though that isn’t of much importance. What is important is reevaluating his situation. Thybulle was a Brett Brown favorite, but he’s an erratic decision-maker and limited offensive threat who might not have the same support under Rivers.
Also going against Thybulle is the ankle injury which kept him out of training camp early. The Sixers have therefore brought him along slowly, whereas Mike Scott and Tyrese Maxey — despite late starts themselves — have clearly made strong first impressions. Thybulle is facing an uphill battle to reassert his prominence in the rotation.
There is, however, room for optimism. After Friday’s win over Indiana, Rivers had this to say about Thybulle’s situation.
Doc Rivers said he “wouldn’t read into any rotations right now” as it relates to Matisse Thybulle, who he points out was limited early in camp and is being brought on a bit slowly
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) December 19, 2020
Rivers has already stated he has four of his five reserves locked in mentally. The assumption of late has been Thybulle and Maxey are fighting for the fifth and final spot. If Rivers’ statement is to be taken seriously, however, perhaps Thybulle returns to a more significant role when the regular season starts. So, again, don’t read too far into preseason basketball.
Sixers preseason takeaway #4: Same ol’ Tobias
Naturally, a disclaimer: Tobias Harris is good! A really solid, productive NBA player who can capably function as the third wheel on a competitive basketball team. He’s not “bad,” unless you evaluate him in relation to his contract.
That said, the narrative of unfairness when it comes to evaluating Harris against his contract is a bit strange. Harris is taking up $34 million in cap space. That’s $34 million the Sixers cannot use elsewhere. If he makes that much, his production has to hold up to $34 million. If it doesn’t, it becomes a misuse of resources and an actively negative force against Philadelphia’s success.
Harris has not been very promising in the Sixers’ first two games under Doc Rivers. Again, it’s the preseason, so it’s not time to panic. The Sixers haven’t implemented the entirety of their offense yet, and Harris will surely gain a better understanding of his role as the season progresses.
For now, all we have evidence of is more of the same. Across two preseason games, Tobias looked sluggish in his decision-making — dribbling out of open 3s in favor of contested mid-range jumpers, and so on. If he is going to truly thrive in Doc Rivers’ pick-and-roll system, he will need to make quick reads and have no shortage of confidence in his pull-up (or spot-up) jumper.
The Sixers need more from Tobias if this current group has any chance of competing in the East. It’s not his fault the Sixers overpaid him, but the Sixers did overpay him. If he continues to underperform that contract to such an egregious degree, Philadelphia will have a tough time recovering.
Sixers preseason takeaway #3: Dwight, the glue guy
One of the preseason’s greatest revelations has been Dwight Howard‘s leadership qualities. He is taking young guys under his wings, sending out all the right messages to the media, and coaching up Joel Embiid behind the curtains. He looks like the steadfast veteran presence Philadelphia never quite had last season.
That’s somewhat surprising given the rocky history of Dwight’s personality. For years, his ego held him back. He struggled to buy into smaller roles and accept the consequences of aging. Now, at 35 years old, Howard has fully embraced his duties as a mentor. He feels like the most important voice in the locker room right now. He’s not, but the praise from teammates and coaches has been profuse.
Also, on the court, the early returns on Dwight are quite positive. The Sixers haven’t had a consistently playable vertical threat since Nerlens Noel. Howard can protect the rim in Embiid’s stead, and he’s already forming a nice offensive partnership with second-unit star Shake Milton.
Howard stepped into the starting five against Indiana and filled Embiid’s shoes admirably. Obviously, the Sixers need Embiid to do anything, but by the same token, they need to survive the minutes (and games) Embiid doesn’t play. Howard looks like he can help in that department.
Sixers preseason takeaway #2: Maxey looks legit
MaxeyMania has already begun. The Sixers’ rook was electric in his first taste of NBA minutes, looking the part of a valuable rotation player. In fact, it’s not too bold to say Doc Rivers should have Maxey as one of his 10 rotation cogs when the regular season starts — even if it’s at the expense of last year’s first-round pick.
The Sixers have struggled to put legitimate halfcourt creators next to Embiid since the inception of his career. Players who can penetrate the defense, create shots from scratch, and do real damage at all three levels have been few and far between. Maxey (and Shake Milton) are finally prepared to change the narrative.
Maxey uses a lethal first step to beat defenders off the dribble and get into the teeth of the defense. Maxey’s floater package is bonkers, and his touch around the rim is equally nutty. He can contort his body and finish at the full speed without losing an ounce of grace, and his jumper — in a very limited sample size — looks fine enough.
It’s too early to pencil Maxey into Rivers’ 10-man group. In fact, I would err on the side of caution and project Thybulle over Maxey when the season begins. Even so, in due time one should expect Maxey to play consistent minutes for this team. He’s a kind of player we have never really seen next to Embiid and Simmons, and there’s a lot of value in letting him shine.
Sixers preseason takeaway #1: Shake was not a flash in the pan
One of the biggest takeaways from training camp was Doc Rivers’ infatuation with Shake Milton — an infatuation which has, so far, played out nicely on the basketball court. It’s clear Rivers is a fan of Milton, and it’s clear Milton will get plenty of freedom to do his thing as Philadelphia’s top reserve.
Milton was the Sixers’ leading scorer in both preseason games, dropping 19 against Boston and 15 against Indiana. He did so on a variety of shots — pull-up 3s, extended-arm finishes at the rim, vicious step-backs, honey-sweet floaters. It’s all there, with Milton showcasing a level of composure and pace very few 24-year-olds possess.
Despite his limited burst and lack of top-end speed, Milton has gotten pretty much anywhere he wants on the floor. His use of hesitation moves to freeze defenders, as well as his ability to shoot over them with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, has made Milton quite the force as a second-unit creator.
Rivers hasn’t committed to a concrete hierarchy of second unit players, but it is clear Milton will operate as Philadelphia’s de facto sixth man. He will get extended minutes next to Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and many of the other starters. Whether playing off of Simmons or leading the offense himself, Milton has proven himself to be someone Rivers will count on.