The Philadelphia 76ers will host the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday evening to finish out the preseason. It has been a very promising couple weeks for the Sixers, going 3-0 against Brooklyn and Cleveland, two prominent Eastern Conference contenders.
Joel Embiid has missed two of three games to this point, but the Sixers have weathered the storm with aplomb. It’s unwise to put too much stock (positive or negative) into preseason performances, but the positive impact of Philly’s improved depth is plain for all to see. The new guys feel like natural fits and the returning players look more comfortable than ever.
That being said, these three players in particular have stood out from the crowd.
Sixers who have stood out in preseason: Danuel House Jr.
Danuel House Jr. is the real deal, folks. The offseason acquisitions of P.J. Tucker and De’Anthony Melton garnered most of the attention, but House looks equally primed to have a significant footprint in the Sixers’ rotation. For too long, the Sixers have struggled to find players who can shoot, dribble, and defend. House feels like a revelation.
This shouldn’t really come as a shock. House looked great in Utah last season, where he revived his career after falling off the map in Houston. His experience playing alongside James Harden is no small thing, but his skill set will complement the likes of Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey just as much.
On top of his excellent perimeter defense — made even more tantalizing when deployed in tandem with Melton — House has been quite the joy to watch offensively. He’s the quintessential role player. He converts on open looks from 3, he makes quick and decisive moves with the ball, he’s a selfless and fluid passer. It’s all quite overwhelming for someone who watched Matisse Thybulle and Tobias Harris share the wing for a year.
House should lead the bench “wings” in minutes (assuming we consider Melton a guard). He’s the best of the bunch. A true glue guy, with a skill set meant to tie things together and make life easier on stars. He should become a fan favorite.
Sixers who have stood out in preseason: Montrezl Harrell
There has been a lot of preseason chatter about Paul Reed’s apparent emergence as Joel Embiid’s primary backup. A very positive development in this writer’s opinion, both because of Reed’s on-court talent and because it shows that even Doc Rivers is capable of change, however slow its progress.
But let’s not oversimplify the matter: Reed’s emergence does not mean Montrezl Harrell has underperformed, or even that Harrell is undeserving of the minutes himself. That’s the thing about depth: it can mean good players with winning skill sets are seemingly neglected, kept hidden in the shadows until misfortune befalls the franchise.
Harrell would play for most teams (and he will probably scrap his way to minutes in Philly, if somewhat sporadic). He has been absolutely thrilling to watch in the preseason — to the point where it would be no exaggeration to proclaim him the best veteran backup of the Embiid era. Yeah, even better than Andre Drummond (I know I said not to put too much stock into preseason performances, to not make grand proclamations, but…).
There’s no way around Harrell’s prolific offensive talent. He’s an elite finisher at the rim, combining the raw force of an NFL linebacker with the grace and soft touch of a ballerina. It’s easy to get caught up in Harrell’s size and lack of perimeter skill, but he’s so good within five feet of the rim that it doesn’t really matter. He is geared to feast off of James Harden assists whenever he sets foot on the floor.
Defense is a major concern, and perhaps the main reason for Reed’s place above him in the rotation, but Harrell’s toughness and competitive spirit cannot go unmentioned. He made the game-winning basket in Philly’s first win over Cleveland, but only did so after flexing and smack-talking the Cavs bench for the entire fourth quarter of a preseason game. It was beautiful stuff. That kind of mildly unwarranted but completely enthralling spunk has been missing from the Sixers for a while.
Sixers who have stood out in preseason: Tyrese Maxey
So, Tyrese Maxey… pretty good, huh?
Maxey has been the Sixers’ best player through three preseason games. It’s only three preseason games, so temper expectations a little bit, but the 21-year-old looks more than ready for the customary third-year leap so many young players make.
If Embiid and Harden are known entities (Harden much less so than Embiid), the degree of Maxey’s improvement next season could determine their ceiling as championship contenders. He looks even more comfortable firing away from deep. Once a very limited shooter, Maxey might be the most prolific 3-point shooter on the team. Combine that with elite burst off the dribble, improved strength finishing through contact at the rim, and a more daring approach to playmaking, and Maxey has all the makings of an offensive star.
There’s no doubt that Harden’s tutelage has helped Maxey take the next step (or five thousand steps). Maxey also works harder than just about everyone. He’s selfless but confident. Hard-working but humble. His willingness to receive input and implement changes has been a wonder to behold. There aren’t many young players built like Maxey, and that’s part of why it’s so easy to be optimistic about his future.
We’re still in the preseason. We have to wait for Maxey’s “leap” to take root in the games that count. But every indicator suggests he will get better, and he will do so expeditiously. Those ready to coronate him as Philly’s No. 2 over Harden might be a tad premature, but Maxey is going to score a lot of points (a lot of them off of Harden assists). Get excited.