Sixers Bell Ringer: Sixers’ supporting cast increases victory over Chicago

Sixers Bell Ringer Season:

Joel Embiid – 16
Ben Simmons – 7
Tobias Harris – 6
Skud Milton – 4
Tyrese Maxey – 1
Dakota Mathias – 1
Matisse Thybulle – 1

With Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons both sidelined due to health and safety protocols after their hairdresser tested positive for COVID-19 last week, things could easily have gone sideways in these openings until the second half of the season. Instead, the rest of the Sixers series played a fairly flawless game, crushing Chicago, 127-105, despite being produced behind the arc as usual. It is only fitting that Philadelphia’s depth in the middle position on Elton Brand’s birthday played an important role in the victory. To the Bell Ringer candidates, sorry for the omissions – it was a huge team-wide victory tonight:

Matisse Thybulle: 13 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 5 steals, 1 turnover

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Matisse was the man who set the tone early for the Sixers, and he collected four steals in the first five minutes of the game, a week’s work for many players. Thybulle was defensive everywhere, even on plays where he was not scored in the goals; a game about Wendell Carter, Jr. change your lap at the edge and prevent an easy two point from coming to your mind. Then, in the second half, Matisse took his talents to the other side of the court, stepping confidently into his shots and draining three tries. It was a 5-out-of-5 night off the field with five steals, basically the Matisse Thybulle statline you can find in Sixers fan erotica.

Tony Bradley: 14 points, 5 rebounds, 3 blocks, 0 turnovers

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The Sixers are no stranger to playing big games against the Bulls this season (see: Joel Embiid’s 50-point game), and Tony Bradley follows the tradition. In just 22 minutes as an appetizer, the usual third-party player has a perfect 7-out-7 off the field, with a gentle touch around the edge, tremendous energy on the offensive glass, and even a bit of ball handling in the open court. Bradley also provided Joel-like edge protection, which earned the point of the big man’s cap himself:

After the game, Doc Rivers credited how hard Bradley worked and said he had lost 25 pounds this season. Good to see Tony has his time to shine tonight.

Tobias Harris: 24 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 turnover

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Tobias did not drop the 50 points that Doc Rivers joked he wanted from Tobi before the game, but the Sixers forward shook off a 0-out-5 start to finish with another effective 20- point performance (8-out-15) off the field, 7-out-8 from the foul line). Harris landed things in the basket and committed on a dunk with one hand next to the track that would bury my co-host Daniel Olinger’s mentions. At the end of his 25 minutes of action, Tobias nails absolutely ridiculous backs.

Dwight Howard: 18 points, 12 rebounds, 1 steal, 2 blocks, 2 turnovers

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There were some Dwight moments in this game, the moving screen here, the offenses of throwing opponents like rag dolls there. But these plays were far less than positive moments from Howard, who channeled his energy to chew up the glass and enforce the paint, while also showing an extremely skilled work as the filmmaker. My favorite Dwight play, however, was a post-up, with Howard shaping Lauri Markkanen and hitting him so hard in the face that the whole of Finland felt it. All in all, I love the Dwight Howard experience this season.