NEW YORK — The Philadelphia 76ers welcomed a new addition to their roster on Saturday when they knocked off the host Brooklyn Nets, 101-98.
The Sixers welcomed Jalen McDaniels to the lineup and he made an impact in his first game. His stat line was only five points and four rebounds, but considering he didn’t know where to be on either end of the floor, the fact he was able to contribute at all is an encouraging sign for Philadelphia.
“Just doing what I do which is getting out and running, cutting to the basket, spotting up, hitting open 3s,” McDaniels said. “James (Harden) and Jo (Joel Embiid) draw a lot of attention and double teams. They make the right play and the right pass so me cutting, spotting up, hit my open shots.”
Jalen McDaniels working on his 3-point shot pregame #Sixers pic.twitter.com/P2iXzebAru
— Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) February 11, 2023
His two baskets came off a lob slam and a 3 in the fourth quarter. He was called upon for the two biggest defensive possessions despite not knowing the coverages.
“More so on defense just knowing the coverages and schemes and stuff like that,” he added. “Offensively, just going with the flow. It’s not too bad, honestly.”
Defense in the NBA doesn’t vary much throughout the league. The coverages McDaniels ran with the Charlotte Hornets are similar to what the Sixers run. McDaniels just has to rely on his defensive instincts until he understands what the call is in Philadelphia.
“It’s like the same,” McDaniels explained. “Just different names and stuff. Everything’s the same and I feel like defensively, I’ve got really good defensive instincts so just throwing me out there, I know where to be in the spots and stuff like that.”
For the Sixers, they have to figure out how they’re going to play with him on the court. The helpful part is McDaniels doesn’t need plays to be called for him. He just reacts to whatever Harden and Embiid do on the offensive end while they figure it out.
“You still don’t know where he likes to cut, his angles and all that stuff,” said coach Doc Rivers. “Looking at it visually, it shouldn’t be that hard.”
McDaniels continue his education with the Sixers when they host the Houston Rockets on Monday.
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