CAMDEN, N.J. — The Philadelphia 76ers returned to work on Wednesday afternoon as they continue preparing for the Brooklyn Nets and the first-round playoff series that begins Saturday afternoon.
The Sixers hope they will be competing for a championship in early June. They have the talent to get it done. They are led by Joel Embiid, James Harden, Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris, and the supporting cast understands their roles.
PJ Tucker was brought to Philadelphia to give the Sixers the edge and the toughness they need for the postseason. As the preparation continues for the Nets, the 2021 NBA champion had a message for the team.
“Just watching the play-in games,” Tucker started. “Just locking in on the little things. Taking the ball out of bounds, little sloppy turnovers.”
In Tuesday’s play-in games, there was sloppiness in both that led to mistakes that cost the Miami Heat and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Tucker doesn’t want the Sixers to commit those mistakes.
“I think for us, when we’re aggressive on defense, we’re a different team on offense, and then you translate into a lot of transition baskets and getting easier ones and then we’re unstoppable because then you got to deal with Jo in the half-court,” Tucker added. “So our alertness in how they guard us and us being efficient in how we attack it.”
As Tucker turned his attention to the Nets, this isn’t the same team that took the floor on opening night in October. But Brooklyn is still a dangerous team when it gets into a groove on the offensive end.
“Just because anybody on their team can go for 20,” Tucker said. “The way they move the ball, they share the ball, they get a lot of 3s up, and they don’t care. Player to player, down the line, they move the ball, they give it to the next guy, and it’s hard to guard when everybody’s aggressive and ready to score.”
The Sixers have to respect their opponent. On paper, the Sixers should win this series in no more than five games. But the Nets have done a terrific job of recovering and succeeding despite trading away Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
A lot of that is due to coach Jacque Vaughn keeping the team together.
“I think he’s done great,” Tucker said of Vaughn. “He’s had to take over that situation and lose the best player in the league or one of the best players in the league. I think it’s pretty amazing they’re still a really, really solid team. They still won a lot of games. Even after the trade, all those guys stepped up, and play well together. It’s hard to say they’re better, but as a team, everybody’s been involved, everybody’s playing and being successful. I think they did a really good job.”
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