Playing without their best player to start the playoffs, the Philadelphia 76ers need all the help they can get, especially on the scoring department. Fortunately for them, one name which fans nearly forgot has been surprisingly productive for the team in his own way as of late, giving the group some much-needed boost on the margins to stay afloat.
Justin Edwards, who has otherwise struggled for the most part this season, has seen his number get called more often recently. Since the tail-end of the regular season, he has been a consistent part of Nick Nurse's rotation, filling in a key role as the resident 3-and-D guy off the bench. Heck, the coaches continue to give him minutes in the playoffs, averaging nearly 20 minutes a night so far in their first round series against the Celtics.
His three-point shooting in particular has seen an uptick to end the season, so much so that his success rate from beyond the arc in this campaign somehow managed to eclipse the mark he set in his rookie year. That is his primary skill and value-provider in this team, and his more than respectable presence from beyond the arc will keep netting him minutes.
Justin Edwards is quietly giving the 76ers some much-needed boost off the bench
Expectations were relatively lofty for Edwards coming into his sophomore campaign. After all, despite going undrafted in last year's draft, he quickly proved that he belonged in the NBA. He averaged double digits in scoring as a rookie, which is an impressive feat for someone who was completely glossed over in the draft.
Unfortunately, it seemed like he had a very difficult time recalibrating to a smaller role this season. With reduced court time, he seemed afraid to make a mistake every time he was on the floor, which led to even more errors and mishits across the board. His shot was likewise betraying him for the first three months or so, which did not help his case for more playing time.
But now that he has once again been reintegrated into the rotation, Edwards is evidently doing his earnest to maintain that status quo. He has slowly earned the trust of the coaches due to his three-point shooting and reliable defense, and while he still has his lapses, he is now able to shine in his more modulated role.
No matter how this season ends for the 76ers, it is nevertheless a positive that Justin Edwards was able to regain his confidence. Hopefully, he can use this as a springboard to come out even stronger next season.
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