Philadelphia 76ers: Christmas gifts for every player on the roster
Sixers Christmas gifts: Matisse Thybulle — Handles
Matisse Thybulle is a gifted defensive prospect who can barely stay on the floor because of his offense. While it would obviously behoove Thybulle to develop a more consistent jumper, he may benefit even more from even rudimentary ball-handling skills. Being able to put the ball on the floor, attack closeouts, and competently play on the move would elevate Thybulle’s game tremendously.
Sixers Christmas gifts: Tyrese Maxey — Coach’s trust
It’s clear Tyrese Maxey has the opportunity to carve out consistent minutes this season. He’s already outplaying the expectations associated with a late first-round pick. His explosive first step, twitchy ball-handling, and knack for creating on the move makes him the kind of on-ball creator Philadelphia has desperately lacked ever since Joel Embiid’s arrival.
That said, Maxey doesn’t yet have the full confidence of Doc Rivers. He played sparsely in the second half of Wednesday’s win over Washington, despite looking like the second best player off the bench. Maxey can elevate the second unit to levels it has long struggled to reach — he just needs to keep it up and earn the full confidence of Rivers, who has traditionally been hesitant to lean on rookies.
Sixers Christmas gifts: Dwight Howard — Captainship
The Sixers don’t need to officially designate a “team captain,” but so far this season, Dwight Howard has taken on a leadership role very few could have reasonably expected. Clearly changed from his championship season in L.A., Howard has not only bought into a complementary role, but committed himself to helping Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Philadelphia’s core take the next step. From the outside looking in, he seems like the main voice in the locker room. Good for him.
Sixers Christmas gifts: Furkan Korkmaz — Speed & Control
Furkan Korkmaz has reasserted his value in the Sixers’ second unit after a shaky postseason. Doc Rivers clearly trusts him, and Korkmaz has rewarded his new coach with improvement on defense and a much sturdier frame (at least, it looks that way on T.V.). That said, what if Korkmaz were to take the next step physically?
It’s difficult to hold every shooter against J.J. Redick, but being a Sixers blog, it’s our duty. If Korkmaz were even quicker and even more controlled coming around screens, he would find even more success in two-man actions with Joel Embiid. Korkmaz has a smooth 3-point stroke, but if he was able to fly around the perimeter at break-neck speed, catch the ball, and square his shoulders while off-balance — Redick-style — he’d be a real treat to watch.
Sixers Christmas gifts: Shake Milton — Burst
Shake Milton has a lot of appealing elements as a go-to scorer. He’s long, smooth, and controlled. He doesn’t get sped up, he changes speeds on a dime, and he’s able to shoot over the top of defenders with a high release point. There’s a reason he has found so much success in 2020.
That said, what Milton does lack is burst. He struggles to get a step on defenders. He’s not particularly explosive, and as a result, he’s stuck trying to maneuver around them or shoot over them, rather than blowing by them. If he could improve his first step, Milton’s potential would soar even higher.