Sixers early season grades: Dwight Howard
Dwight is the best backup Embiid has had so far. He hasn’t disappointed in terms of fulfilling his role which has included protecting the rim, working the glass on both ends and setting screens. Unfortunately he hasn’t seemed to be a great fit with a couple players. Lineups with Simmons, Thybulle and Howard are what come to mind. The offense is just unpleasant to watch to say the least with these three, and with Embiid and Simmons often being staggered, Simmons seems to be with Howard fairly often. I don’t believe this is a good pairing at all. Howard has performed decently though and looks very good when he plays with the second unit, especially before Mike Scott’s injury. Let’s hope Rivers can find a different way to make rotations work to get the most out of Dwight and the bench in general.
Sixers early season grades: Tyrese Maxey
Tyrese Maxey has been a gem for the Sixers. A total steal after falling to No. 21, he’s done everything but disappoint. He did well in the few games that he was given a starting role and his 39-point performance against Denver showed the extent of his potential. With excellent ball-handling ability, blistering speed and quickness combined with an astonishing floater package, Maxey has become a very valuable asset for the Sixers, let’s hope to see further development and his potential…Maxey-mized.
Sixers early season grades: Furkan Korkmaz
The Turkish wing has been an alright player off the bench for the Sixers. He’s only shooting 33 percent from both the field and from 3 compared to 43 percent and 40.2 percent, respectively, last season. This may be partially due to the recent injury he’s had to deal with so we can give him the benefit of the doubt. It’s also only been 19 games. Let’s hope Korkmaz can start making shots and play his best.
Sixers early season grades: Matisse Thybulle
The sophomore is one of my lesser favored Sixers despite his charm. I don’t deny how elite his defense is and how much of an asset this is for the Sixers. Unfortunately, his offense seems to be almost as bad as his defense is good. Matisse can only be described as a liability in the offense. If he can just space the floor better and make shots from the outside, maybe become a smart cutter who can finish around the rim well or some kind of combination of both, Matisse can be one of the better wings around the league. Fortunately, it’s only his second season and he’s only 23. Let’s hope to see lots of development in this player’s offensive game because his defense is impeccable.