The Philadelphia 76ers have been forced to rely on unproven players in recent games due to the league’s health and safety protocols keeping main rotation players Seth Curry, Tobias Harris and others sidelined as the league works through the landscape of the pandemic.
That means coach Doc Rivers has had to turn to second-round picks Isaiah Joe and Paul Reed as well as undrafted rookie Dakota Mathias along with Tyrese Maxey to try and pick up wins. After initial struggles with the team losing three in a row, they found a groove in Tuesday’s win over the Miami Heat.
Joe knocked down four 3s, including a clutch one late to help the Sixers force overtime. Mathias made his only shot of the night in overtime, a deep 3-pointer to give Philadelphia the lead for good.
“I think it’ll be hugely beneficial for them,” said Rivers. “Obviously, it’s not what we planned coming into the year. We didn’t think we would have games where we would have Shake out, Furkan (Korkmaz) out, Seth Curry out, Tobias out. Who would have thought that that would ever happen?”
This is not easy for Joe, Mathias or even Maxey. They are being asked to do a lot as rookies. They are being asked to grow up rather quickly and help a team that has championship aspirations get it done right now.
“At times, we’re not playing the right way, so you got to get on them, you got to explain to them how everything is supposed to be and what they’re supposed to be doing,” said Joel Embiid. “The best thing about all of them is they’re willing learners. They listen, they learn, they go out and do the right thing. We got a great group of guys. I really love all of them.”
One of the more impressive things down the stretch of Tuesday’s win was the ball security by Joe and Mathias. Both Maxey and Ben Simmons fouled out, meaning the two of them had to be the ballhandlers in overtime against a very good Heat team.
“We get in the game and Ben fouls out, Tyrese fouls out, and down the stretch,” said Rivers. “We have no point guard and the two guards that we had bring the ball up are both rookies with very little NBA experience and yet, they didn’t turn the ball over, and we handled that pretty well.”
In a time where they are trying to help the team win a title while also trying to take steps forward in a world that is also dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, the rookies are doing a solid job. This experience will help all of them as the season continues on.
“Just very proud of them and there’s so many lessons to be learned in this game, good and bad,” Rivers finished. “I think it’d be great for them in the long run.”
The Sixers will have a rematch with the Heat on Thursday at home.
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