The moment it was announced that Tyrese Maxey was going to be missing at least three weeks due to an untimely finger injury, it felt like the Philadelphia 76ers have stumbled upon a huge roadblock that was nearly impossible to get past. Yet here we are, and with just 11 games left on their schedule, this team has found a way to rack up some wins to stay alive.
Philly is currently situated at 7th place in the East, which is all you can ask for right now from this bunch. They are still missing four of their five starters, yet they are just a game away from No. 5 in the standings and a guaranteed playoff spot. But more importantly, this stepping-up act on the part of the role players could very well end up paying off in a huge way come playoff time.
For the most part this season, the team has had numerous bouts with inconsistency in relation to their role players. Nick Nurse and his staff has pushed and pulled guys out of the rotation over the course of the year. That is precisely what makes this impressive stretch all the more crucial for the team even when they get healthier.
The 76ers will be better down the road thanks to their role players stepping up
Guys like Quentin Grimes, Justin Edwards, Trendon Watford, Jabari Walker, and of course, VJ Edgecombe, have all stepped up in the absence of the team’s stars. Those players have had up-and-down campaigns so far, having been marred by long shooting slumps and inefficiency all season long.
But now that they have been shoehorned into such prominent roles, they are slowly getting the hang of it. Some of those players are not on the team’s usual rotation when healthy, but when they get their number called, they should be more comfortable filling in and playing in pinches, especially during the postseason.
Nothing is ever guaranteed in the NBA, and even if the 76ers are slated to get their key cogs soon, injuries could still happen at any time, especially with this team. As such, getting those bench players to log heavy minutes will ensure that they will be less frazzled when the bright lights are on. Of course, their effectiveness would wane, but their mindset should be more fortified after this latest stretch.
The 76ers probably thought they would only be getting moral victories with nearly all their vital cogs sidelines, but this bunch, against all odds, has managed to keep them afloat. But more importantly, this team has found a way to turn a major setback into a real asset that could help them shock the world in the playoffs.