76ers final month stock watch: 2 surprising risers, 2 fallers
As the Philadelphia 76ers head into the final stretch of the season, here are two players on the rise and a couple on a decline.
The Philadelphia 76ers snagged a crucial and gutsy win on Sunday night, giving them an extra boost in their chase for better playoff positioning. As they head toward the final four weeks of the regular season, every game from here on out will have big repercussions on the postseason picture in the Eastern Conference.
Fortunately, while the 76ers are still bereft of a consistent lifeline from the injury bug, some players are starting to peak at the right time. The caveat though is that a couple have a lot of catching up to do, as thei recent play suggests a downward trajectory. Here are two surprising riser and fallers for Philly as they propel into the final month of their campaign.
Riser 1: Paul Reed is starting to prove his worth to the 76ers
Sans Joel Embiid, the 76ers have predictably performed like a lottery team. The reigning Most Valuable Player especially left a gaping hole at the center position, but after an underwhelming start, interim starter Paul Reed is starting to prove his worth to the team.
So far this month, Reed has tallied 12.7 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.2 blocks per outing. He was arguably the main driving force behind the team forcing the Knicks to score just 73 points in their latest win, with Coach Tom Thibodeau even heaping praises on the 24-year-old’s performance on the boards and on the defensive end.
Philadelphia looked completely helpless to the point of blunt regret for a trade that should’ve occurred, but if Reed continues his strong play as of late, the 76ers will have a much bigger chance to improve their standing and be a threat in the playoffs, especially with Embiid likely being limited in the event that he comes back from injury.