The Sixers would play a basketball game Wednesday night and did so by beating the Wizards 141-136 and improving to 7-1.
These facts, and basketball in general, resembled the outside world.
Head coach Doc Rivers was considerate and not afraid to name things, as he saw it as a prelude to being asked about pro-Trump rioters storming the Capitol in Washington, DC. Black people storm the Capitol, and what would have happened? ”
The Celtics and Heat walked off the field before their scheduled game and then issued a joint statement indicating that they had decided to play to give ‘people’s lives’ joy. ‘
Bucks and Pistons players took a knee after turning.
The Sixers play the Nets in Brooklyn again Thursday night. Below are observations on their winning Wednesday:
Curry can not miss
“If I get good shots, I expect to make it with a pretty high percentage,” Seth Curry said Saturday.
There is enough evidence to support the sentiment. Curry caught fire in this game, making 6 of his 7 three-point attempts and scoring a season-high 28 points. He is not a shooter who should ever lose confidence, but it is clear that he currently possesses it in abundance.
Curry’s pump fake was very effective, partly because it was convincing in itself and partly because it was dangerous not to contest his shot. When the Sixers swing the ball around the perimeter and defenders slide down on him, his pump false is a very useful tool.
The 30-year-old now made 25 of 42 three-pointers as a Sixer (59.5 percent).
The Bradley Beal Show
The Sixers defense, which entered the game as the best of the NBA, enabled Bradley Beal to place a career-high 60 points on 20-for-35 shooting, a tremendous individual effort from the two-time All-Star -Star.
On the whole, performances like Beal’s should not be a major concern. He is a player who is difficult for any team to defend, and the Sixers have managed to win despite their sub-defense.
Yet Beal’s big night is a reminder that the Sixers do not have a conventional defender other than Ben Simmons, who guarded Russell Westbrook and had 17 points and 12 assists. Danny Green forces turnover and plays smart team defense, but Simmons and Joel Embiid are a few tracks above any other Sixer defense. Needless to say, it’s still an excellent defensive base.
Speaking of Embiid, he scored 38 points and had three blocks and stole three, eventually finding an offensive groove after missing his first six field goal attempts, and providing important baskets on the piece. He had an impressive block in the second quarter against Wizards point guard Raul Neto and rushed back to catch up with his much shorter former teammate.
The reaction of a veteran
Shake Milton scored only 40.5 percent of his field goals and 27.3 percent of his tries over the Sixers’ first seven games. However, it was only a matter of time before his shots began to fall at a higher rate. Milton’s calmness, confidence and uncomplicated jumper were useful qualities early in his young NBA career. Green does not consider the 24-year-old among the Sixers’ ‘young guys’.
“I think he’s a vet – the way he acts, the way he moves, his mannerisms,” Green said last week.
Milton broke through on Wednesday for 19 points on 6-for-9 shooting and did damage at all three levels.
He had the opportunity to play more with rookie Tyrese Maxey due to injuries to Furkan Korkmaz (left adductor strain) and Mike Scott (left knee contusion). Both players stayed against Washington.
“Young kid can go -” Travel can go, “Milton said after the Sixers’ shooting on Wednesday. ‘It’s definitely nice to have someone like that in the backfield with you. He can dribble, shoot, pass. He’s just a playmaker. Every time you have an extra playmaker on the court, it makes it fun to play with. ‘
It will be interesting to see what Rivers does with his bench when everyone is healthy. Since Maxey’s fast, energetic style fits Rivers’ desired pace, it’s going to be surprising to see his minutes cut drastically.