Sixers not named Simmons or Embiid who will win games

If Joel Embiid or Ben Simmons can’t produce on a given night, what other player from the Sixers can step up and help Philly win a playoff game?

The two stars on the Philadelphia 76ers are Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. They’ve played for the Sixers the longest, and they are the backbone of the team. As the team’s only two All-Stars, heavy is the head that wears the crown.

Their many responsibilities on both sides of the ball are critical. Just look at how the team fared when either missed games during the regular season. Minus Embiid, the 76ers went only 8-6. Without Simmons, Philly went 7-7. In this series versus the Washington Wizards, and any subsequent playoff matchups, should Embiid or Simmons struggle, Philadelphia will need others to elevate their game.

If the two hometown favorites get into foul trouble or get banged up during a stretch of minutes, their teammates will need to fill any offensive or defensive voids. Who would you trust to win a game for the Sixers in the event that Embiid or Simmons aren’t in the position to do it themselves?

This article will highlight three specific players who have the capability to win a game in these playoffs if Doc Rivers needs them in crucial situations.

Sixers not named Simmons or Embiid who will win games: Matisse Thybulle

As a second year player, Matisse Thybulle has flat out dominated opponents defensively. It is no question how much of an impact he has on a game. Using his stealth tactics and cerebral approach to shutting down an opposing team’s most important players, Thybulle can turn the tide at any juncture of a game.

Look at how Thybulle has shut down some of the NBA’s most elite scorers this season. According to NBA.com’s head-to-head stats, he held Kemba Walker, Zach Lavine, and Devin Booker under 30 percent shooting. Against speedster De’Aaron Fox, Thybulle forced him into 36 percent shooting. Keep in mind, he averaged only 20 minutes a night. So, imagine if he had played 15 more minutes in these games. Yikes.

Just how can Thybulle win a game for the Sixers in the playoffs? If his team needs a big stop versus Bradley Beal or Russell Westbrook late in a game, his number will surely be called like it was in the regular season. Need evidence? Look no further than performances in tight games where he was relied on to get a big stop in crunch time.

A prime example of this is when Philly was in a close game in San Antonio. On a possession where veteran Patty Mills pulled up for a jump shot which could have given the Spurs a lead, Thybulle blocked the shot from behind. It was a thing of beauty. This gave Philly a chance to win in overtime.

Although his offense is unreliable, his ability to shift the outcome of a playoff game with his steals, blocks, and deflections is remarkable. In game one versus Washington, he proved his defensive playoff value by creating havoc in the third quarter that helped the Sixers go on a run.

At any point throughout a game, Thybulle can be counted on to lock down the other team’s most dangerous threat. In essence, he is like the Deion Sanders of the NBA. Try and score on him if you dare, but in the end, opponents will lose more than they win.

Sixers not named Simmons or Embiid who will win games: Seth Curry

As was the case in game one versus the Wizards, the Sixers needed a spark from someone other than Embiid and Simmons. In that game, Simmons was not effective scoring, and Embiid was in foul trouble. When Seth Curry was needed to send a jolt of offense into the Sixers’ lineup, he delivered.

Should they need him in the playoffs, Curry has the ability to make a huge difference. His dominant trait on the floor is clearly his shooting. If Embiid is struggling with his shot, Curry can knock down some key baskets.

Curry’s 3-point shot is most lethal and significant within the offense.  His accuracy draws defenders further away from the paint, which can create needed space for Simmons to drive or Embiid to secure favorable post positioning.

In comparison to J.J. Redick, the last sniper Philly had in a playoff series, Seth Curry is much more impactful driving and finishing. He can pump fake and score in multiple ways. He can pull up midrange, penetrate for a layup, or loft up a floater.

Situationally, Curry can bring home a W for Philly in two distinct ways. If Simmons puts up another box score in single digit points, we know that he can still dish the ball. Curry can be a recipient in transition, receiving passes and knocking down threes. As a trailer, it makes defenses choose between Simmons on the break or staying with Curry. Then of course there’s the half court set.

Curry is a floor spacer for sure, and once he gets up shots and is feeling it, his range is deadly. When he increases his shot volume and looks to score often, especially on the perimeter, it makes him so much more effective in the half court.

So, it’s easy to see how Curry can step in and win a game for Philly scoring the ball. For perspective on how important his scoring has been for Philly, check this final stat – in the regular season, Curry averaged 12.5 points. In twenty games where he scored 15 or more points, Philadelphia won 18 and only lost twice. This illustrates how impactful Seth Curry can be for the Sixers’ offense.

Sixers not named Simmons or Embiid who will win games: Tobias Harris

A lot of Philly fans who were bearish on Tobias Harris since his max contract signing are now starting to see his worth. Without Harris in game one, the 76ers would have surely lost the game. The scoring he put up while Joel Embiid was in foul trouble was essential to keeping the Wizards from taking a significant lead.

So, what can Harris do to give Philadelphia a win in the playoffs when Embiid and Simmons are not pulling their weight? Simple. Putting the ball in the hoop has been the strength of Tobias Harris. During this past regular season, Harris scored 20 or more points in 32 games. In that sample, the 76ers went 24-8. Some other impressive stats include his shooting percentages.

From the start of the season up to the start of the playoffs, Harris shot 51.2 percent from the field. He also shot 39.4 percent from the 3-point line and 89.2 percent from the free throw line. These numbers are more than impressive. They are almost elite.

You can nitpick at the idea that he should be scoring six more points per game to justify his $33.5 million dollar salary this season, but you do not have to because Harris has proven that he is a more than capable secondary scorer for the Sixers.

Don’t forget that Harris has ice in his veins when he needs to step up in crunch time. If you watched the Sixers/Lakers game in January, you saw first hand how Harris took the last shot and lifted the 76ers to victory. He had 24 points in that game by the way.

In his five playoff series, Harris is only averaging 16 points per game. Yet, one must remember that this is a new year under a new regime. Where Brett Brown failed to establish a sound scoring system with Harris, Embiid, Simmons, and Butler, this year brings much more stable sets in the offense thanks to Doc Rivers. It has been mentioned many times how reuniting Rivers with his former player has helped Harris flourish once again.

If Doc Rivers needs to lean on him in any game during the playoffs due to Simmons and Embiid being ineffective for whatever reason, Harris will do so as one of the true leaders of this team.