Category: 76ers

Sixers’ Brett Brown says he learned something from Josh Richardson

Philadelphia 76ers coach Brett Brown said he learned something new from Josh Richardson on Saturday.

The Philadelphia 76ers acquired Josh Richardson from the Miami Heat on the first night of free agency on June 30 in a sign-and-trade for Jimmy Butler. Over the summer, he mentioned that he wanted to kill the Heat and on Saturday night, he got his first chance at doing so and he didn’t waste it.

Richardson went for 32 points on 11-for-15 shooting and he drilled six from deep as the Sixers went on to knock off the Heat 113-86 in what was a relatively easy win from start to finish.

Coach Brett Brown says Richardson wouldn’t lead on about how important this game was to him, but Brown did learn something from him. Brown stated:

I learned something tonight. It doesn’t surprise me, but to the level that he displayed that stood out. He was very, very good on both sides of the ball tonight.

Richardson was not only good offensively, but also on the defensive end as he had a steal and he bothered Miami’s Kendrick Nunn and Duncan Robinson into tough nights.

Brown spoke on his effort:

I think that I saw just a two-way guard. I saw somebody stalking people down, rearview contest of their shots, making people have to chew up clock on just full court entries and he made it difficult all over the place. He was stalking, he was harrassing, that’s what I saw and then you saw him score. I really think, it was as fine a performance on both sides of the ball that should be refelected on how we judge him tonight.

There is so much that Richardson can do on the floor and Saturday was just another example of what he can bring to the floor. His effort on both ends of the floor knocking down big shots on offense and then the stalking on defense is a big thing for this team. They can continue to grow with this type of effort and it’s something that can be used moving forward. [lawrence-related id=19933,19925,19917]

Sixers fans welcome Jimmy Butler back to Philly with chorus of boos

The faithful fan base in Philadelphia greeted Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler with a chorus of boos.

It has been five months since Jimmy Butler left the Philadelphia 76ers to join the Miami Heat in a sign-and-trade deal in June on the first night of a crazy free agency period. Since that time there has been plenty of speculation of what the reaction from the fan base would be when he would make his first visit back to the Wells Fargo Center.

Well, on Saturday, that question was finally answered. The fan base did not care for what Butler gave to the Sixers franchise in his 55 regular-season games plus his work in the playoffs. When Butler was introduced first in the Heat starting lineup, he was met with a rather loud and long chorus of boos.

Butler averaged 18.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.0 assists during his brief time in Philadelphia, but he decided to move on. That’s life in the NBA as players look for the best situation for themselves. Both teams sit at the top of the Eastern Conference standings and it will be a good test for both teams. [lawrence-related id=19925,19917,19904]

Sixers coach Brett Brown on Heat’s Jimmy Butler: ‘I wish him well’

Philadelphia 76ers coach Brett Brown wishes Jimmy Butler well ahead of a matchup with the Miami Heat.

The Philadelphia 76ers will get set to take on current Miami Heat and former Sixers forward Jimmy Butler and it brings up a lot of intrigue for this specific matchup on Saturday night.

Butler recently gave a vague reason for why he left the Sixers for Miami in the offseason and there was a lot of speculation that it had something to do with Butler’s relationship with Sixers coach Brett Brown.

Ahead of Saturday’s matchup, Brown gave his thoughts on what happened with Butler:

I mean, he had some great games for us and we came close at the end and sometimes things just don’t work out. He’s in a good place, he’s in a really good place, and I wish him well.

The relationship between the two men was something that was always looked at under a microscope and it’s something that will be speculated on by plenty of people for a while. Nobody truly knows what went on behind the scenes except for Brown and Butler and it will remain that way until one of them decides to open up about it.

The Sixers and the Heat matchup at 7:30 p.m. EST from the Wells Fargo Center. [lawrence-related id=19917,19904,19894]

Sixers guard Josh Richardson to return vs. Heat, Furkan Korkmaz out

The Philadelphia 76ers will welcome back Josh Richardson to their starting lineup on Saturday.

The Philadelphia 76ers will be looking for a fourth straight win on Saturday when they welcome in old friend Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat in what is expected to be an emotional night at the Wells Fargo Center. On top of that, the Sixers will be welcoming back their starting shooting guard who they acquired from the Heat in the sign-and-trade.

The Sixers will welcome back Josh Richardson to their starting lineup after he missed the previous two games with a hip injury. The guy who replaced him in the starting lineup, Furkan Korkmaz, will miss the game with a left ankle sprain and he will be re-evaluated before Monday’s game with the Toronto Raptors.

The Sixers are coming off a businesslike win on Friday over the San Antonio Spurs and they will be looking to continue to grow as a team. The team’s starting unit has played a grand total of 70 minutes so far so they will be able to finally add to that and continue to grow chemistry. [lawrence-related id=19904,19894,19887]

Sixers vs. Heat preview: Jimmy Butler makes his return to Philly

The Philadelphia 76ers seek a fourth straight win against the Miami Heat.

It’s been five months since Jimmy Butler decided to leave the Philadelphia 76ers for the Miami Heat in a sign-and-trade after 55 games with the franchise and a nice playoff run. Five months of fans dealing with anger and shock over the Sixers losing a player of such star caliber.

On Saturday night, they’ll finally be able to unleash that pent up anger.

The Sixers will look to make it four wins in a row when they welcome in Butler and the red hot Heat who are sitting at 11-3 after they knocked off the Chicago Bulls on Friday. Philadelphia will be looking to remain undefeated at home after they beat the San Antonio Spurs on Friday and both teams will be playing on the second night of a back-to-back.

With that said, it’s time for the preview with everything that comes with it:

How to watch Sixers vs. Heat:

  • Date: Saturday, November 23
  • Time: 7:30 p.m. EST
  • Location: Wells Fargo Center Philadelphia, PA
  • TV: NBATV, NBC Sports Philadelphia

Injury Report

  • Sixers: NOT YET SUBMITTED
  • Heat: NOT YET SUBMITTED

Storylines

Embiid’s relationship with Butler

Sixers All-Star Joel Embiid has made it clear that he and Butler still talk on a regular basis and he has made it known that he is a close friend of his. However, once between the lines, that friendship goes out the window and it’s time for work. Embiid understands that more than anybody as he stated:

It doesn’t matter, we’ve got to get the win. That’s my guy, obviously we talk a lot, but we’ve got to get the win. They(Miami) have been doing pretty good. They’re a pretty good team, so it’s going to be a challenge. We’ve got to come out and be ready like we did tonight and not mess around. At the end of the day, it’s all about winning the game.

Praise for Simmons

The Sixers All-Star point guard has received a ton of criticism over his lack of shooting, but that doesn’t mean he’ll back down. No matter what obstacle is thrown his way, he always seems to stand tall and bounce back. That’s something that caught coach Brett Brown’s eye after the win on Friday as he stated:

I see it in him, when he missed some free throws, it didn’t surprise me, like he was going to come back and make some. He doesn’t melt. Ben Simmons does not melt and I think that he, there’s an inner strength and confidence that I see at a young age that he bounces back.

Prediction

The Heat are more than just Butler. They have a roster filled with guys that only the hardcore NBA junkies are aware of, but guys like Duncan Robinson, Bam Adebayo, Kendrick Nunn, and others are stepping up and playing integral roles in the team’s success. The Sixers are the more talented team on paper, but this certainly will not be a cakewalk by any means. The Sixers better buckle down and be prepared for a fight, because that’s exactly what they’ll be getting.

Pick: Sixers squeak this one out

Sixers vs. Heat season series

Game 1 November 23:

Game 2 December 18:

Game 3 December 28:

Game 4 February 3:

[lawrence-related id=19894,19887,19862]

Al Horford praises Ben Simmons for Sixers’ offensive success vs. Spurs

Philadelphia 76ers big man Al Horford praises Ben Simmons for the team’s offensive success.

Philadelphia 76ers big man Al Horford has been looking to really find his offensive niche with his new team, but he hadn’t been able to really find that role just yet. On Friday night, he found some offensive success in a Sixers win over the San Antonio Spurs to remain undefeated at home.

Horford had a very prototypical game as he had 18 points, nine rebounds, and six assists and he knocked down some easy midrange jumpers. According to the veteran big man, that type of success can be attributed to the play of All-Star Ben Simmons who had himself a triple-double of 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 13 assists.

Horford stated:

It was good, I just felt like it all started with Ben for us. When he plays with that type of pace and that sense of urgency, it just opens everything up for all of us. I felt like his pressure and him putting pressure on the rim and attacking and looking ahead and making the right decisions, it got us in good positions early. I was able to get the ball in spots that I like and was able to go score.

The Sixers have always centered their focus on Simmons’ growth as a point guard more than anything else and Friday was another good example of that growth. He made plays on the defensive end, he made plays for his teammates, and that’s the most important thing right now. The Sixers need Simmons to continue his growth as an overall player. [lawrence-related id=19887,19878,19870]

Brett Brown, Tobias Harris talk defense after Sixers win over Spurs

Philadelphia 76ers coach Brett Brown and forward Tobias Harris talk defense after a win over the San Antonio Spurs.

When the Philadelphia 76ers re-signed Tobias Harris for the deal they did over the summer, the idea was for him to be their shooter to spread the floor, but they also needed him to become a better defender at the wing position to make it work. They had to have liked what they saw on Friday night in a win over the San Antonio Spurs.

Harris had a good offensive night with 26 points on 10-for-16 shooting and he had six rebounds to go along with four assists, but it was his defense that stood out as he bothered Spurs star DeMar DeRozan as well as Bryn Forbes and Dejounte Murray into tough shots.

Coach Brett Brown acknowledged:

I think he’s moving completely in the right direction. We talk lots about two things, just that maniacal competitive effort, as a team, not Tobias, and he always brings it. He’s an incredibly prideful defensive player. Then it gets down to the sophisticated part of defense of game plan. Knowing your personnel, what are we doing on DeMar? What are we doing on LaMarcus(Aldridge)? Patty Mills in the game, are we going to try to blitz him? It’s multi-layers from a scouring perspective. So then you combine that effort and that competitive drive which he has with the intellect of a game plan and the two collide and produce team defense. I think he’s doing really well morphing into a holistic defensive player.

Harris has said in the past that he does want to be a better defensive player in order to be more of a two-way player in the league. An improved defensive presence along with his offensive ability can turn him into a solid player overall.

Harris stated:

I think I’m good. I think before, like last year, you’d say ‘oh he’s average’, but I think I’m at good right now. I wouldn’t say great, but I think you can now label me a good defender.

The challenge for Harris now is to continue to grow as a defensive player and continue to grow as an overall player. There are so many different options on this team to go to, but if Harris can give them a presence on both ends of the floor, then that can take his game, and his team, to another different level on the court. [lawrence-related id=19878,19870,19854]

Sixers coach Brett Brown praises Ben Simmons: ‘He doesn’t melt’

Philadelphia 76ers coach Brett Brown praises Ben Simmons for his mental toughness following another win.

The Philadelphia 76ers received contributions from just about everybody on Friday night when they knocked off the San Antonio Spurs 115-104 to remain undefeated on their home floor. Tobias Harris, Joel Embiid, and Al Horford all had big games, but the All-Star point guard once again had a really solid night.

Ben Simmons poured in another triple-double of 10 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds and he made a lot of big defensive plays down the stretch. He also stepped up and made his free throws after the Spurs went with the infamous “Hack-a-Ben” strategy. It was another solid performance for Simmons following a good effort against the New York Knicks in the previous game.

Coach Brett Brown had a lot of praise for the team’s leader as he stated:

I see it in him, when he missed some free throws, it didn’t surprise me, like he was going to come back and make some. He doesn’t melt. Ben Simmons does not melt and I think that he, there’s an inner strength and confidence that I see at a young age that he bounces back.

Simmons ended up shooting 4-for-8 at the free-throw line after he missed three of his first four from the line. It showed off resilience and mental toughness to stay in it despite a tough start to the night from an area he’s got to improve in.

Brown added:

Whether it’s that or what I just said and many other instances that I can point to, I think that’s spirit, I think that’s his nature, that’s how he’s wired, and you have to be in this league if you want to attain the success that we and he hope to maintain and grow on.

Simmons’ next challenge is now taking on former teammate Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat on Saturday. [lawrence-related id=19870,19854,19845]

Sixers star Joel Embiid on Heat forward Jimmy Butler: ‘That’s my guy’

Philadelphia 76ers big man Joel Embiid says Jimmy Butler is still his guy ahead of a matchup with the Miami Heat.

The Philadelphia 76ers used a balanced effort to knock off the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night 115-104 as six players scored in double-digits. Tobias Harris led the way with 26 points and six rebounds and Joel Embiid added 21 points on 9-for-13 shooting with 14 rebounds.

Up next on the docket is an old friend making his first trip back to Philadelphia since the summer’s sign-and-trade. Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat will invade the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday as the Sixers will look to remain undefeated at home.

Butler recently praised Embiid calling him “special” and saying that he can be the best player in the league. Ahead of Saturday, Embiid won’t put any extra emotion into the game, but he will acknowledge that Butler is still a close friend.

Embiid said:

It doesn’t matter, we’ve got to get the win. That’s my guy, obviously we talk a lot, but we’ve got to get the win. They(Miami) have been doing pretty good. They’re a pretty good team, so it’s going to be a challenge. We’ve got to come out and be ready like we did tonight and not mess around. At the end of the day, it’s all about winning the game.

There will no doubt be an extra charge in the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday when Butler makes his return to Philly, but there is still work to be done. The Sixers are still trying to work out a lot of kinks and work out a lot of different issues on their team. It offers another opportunity to grow as a unit. [lawrence-related id=19854,19845,19823]

Sixers guard Josh Richardson to miss second straight game vs. Spurs

Philadelphia 76ers guard Josh Richardson will miss a second straight game on Friday against the San Antonio Spurs.

The Philadelphia 76ers will be looking for a third straight win on Friday night when they welcome in coach Brett Brown’s old mentor, Gregg Popovich, and the San Antonio Spurs. For a second straight game, the Sixers will be missing yet another piece from their starting lineup.

For the second straight game, Josh Richardson will have to miss a contest with a hip flexor injury. He was originally listed as questionable, but now according to Yahoo!’s Shams Charania, the Sixers guard will have to miss the game now.

Philadelphia will welcome in Richardson’s old team, the Miami Heat, on Saturday in what is expected to be an emotional game with Richardson and Jimmy Butler facing off after the sign-and-trade over the summer. There is hope he can play in that one.

The Sixers have been unable to find some real chemistry on the floor with all of these different ailments to the starting lineup and it makes it hard for Brown to figure out a concrete rotation. It will take some time for all of this to come together fully.

The Sixers and the Spurs matchup at 8:00 p.m. EST from the Wells Fargo Center. [lawrence-related id=19830,19845,19823]