Bill Streicher
Kelly Oubre Jr. cooked. Tyrese Maxey threw a fist full of lobs. The end of the Sixers' bench beat the Nets' starters. Preseason is mercifully almost over.
Here's what I saw.
- Besides being quite authoritative with some of his off-the-dribble moves, Maxey has taken some appropriate risks as a playmaker this preseason. We'll say 'appropriate' because he has to take some risks to grow as a point guard. Can't just be same-side drive-and-kicks or post feeds. He has to make some cross-court reads after using his speed to shift defenses.
Anyway, you expect an uptick in turnovers. That's the nature of being open to riskier passes. He's exhibited that in preseason. But, we've also seen some of the benefits of Maxey keeping his head up when the ball is in his hands.
Wednesday's game against the Nets saw both sides of the spectrum. He attacked baseline, forced a rotation and made a bounce pass to the opposite corner. It was intercepted for a turnover. But, I care more about him seeing - and acting upon - that read than I do the turnover.
He didn't let it dissuade him, either. As the first quarter went on, Maxey delivered a handful of precise lobs in the open court, finding teammates who plunged to the rim as they ran in transition.
He's already proving to be so comfortable as a lob thrower that that being his main progression as a playmaker this season might be an underachievement. His chemistry will vary by teammate, but he's landing that pass well regardless of whether he's on the move or standing still.
- If Andre Drummond is getting full extension and making rotations to try to alter shots at the rim, totally fine if he racks up his share of goaltending violations. That's the risk that comes with trying to block shots. Aggressiveness isn't always timed perfectly. And maybe the opposition thinks twice about going to the rim next time down the floor because of it.
- Ricky Council IV botched a defensive rebound in the first half, leading to a second play for the Nets. Nick Nurse was clearly animated on the sideline, and subbed Council out of the game shortly thereafter. Council started the second half for Philadelphia and authored one of the best defensive possessions you will see.
First, he had the focus to keep track of Cam Thomas on a would-be back cut, extending his arms and sliding his feet to deny the pass over the top. It caused Thomas to reverse course and come get the ball on the perimeter, putting Council in a one-on-one situation. He moved his feet, kept his hips in front and forced Thomas into a contested fadeaway that popped off the side of the rim. It was the rare play in which the same player showed exemplary team and individual defense. Good response to a bad moment in the first half.
- Want to know how you can tell the Sixers are coached well? Save for the binary of making and missing shots, the depths of the bench played about as strong of fundamental basketball as you could ask for. Ball fakes, drive-and-kicks, cutting, rebounding and hit-ahead passing. It didn't matter that you were watching all three two-way guys, Jared McCain and Adem Bona. It was still good basketball. And they put the Nets, who were still playing some of their starters, away in the fourth quarter.
- I respect Eric Gordon's attempts at a few layups in traffic, even if they had virtually no chance of going in because he was walled off on the drive. Have to show you're a threat to put it on the deck, but there is a time and a place.
- Feels like we've seen a lot of Oubre declaring Oubre time in the preseason, at least more than we saw at any point last season. Hope it's not a regression back to the habits that landed him on a league minimum two summers ago. That being said, he was by far the leading scorer for Philadelphia. So, as long as the situation is right, let Kelly cook, I suppose.
- KJ Martin can take all the open threes he wants in practice. Gotta let it fly when you're open in the games. Can't have record-scratch moments when the closeout is coming.
- The sooner Reggie Jackson realizes he doesn't get extra points for making shots more difficult, the sooner he'll see some shots fall.
- McCain left the game late in the fourth quarter after taking a very hard fall under the rim. He walked off the floor with a bit of help and went straight back to the locker room. So, something to monitor going forward.
- The Sixers have worn their white Association edition uniforms in both home preseason games. Is this the year they finally stick with the home whites and use the blues (Icon edition) on the road?
- The Drummond bully ball post-up is a sight to behold.
The Sixers (3-2) will finish preseason play on the road against the Orlando Magic (0-2) on Friday. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m., Eastern time. You can watch the game on League Pass.
