The Philadelphia 76ers have been looking for more consistent offense off the bench to help support the starters and what they do on the floor. They have seemed to have found it in the form of James Ennis III.
The Sixers reserve has been playing much better as of late starting with scoring 20 points off the bench in a win over the New York Knicks followed by more solid scoring outputs during the team’s current 4-game winning streak.
Ennis has been shooting 50% from deep during the streak and he has been getting to the free-throw line much more as he has averaged 3.5 attempts over the previous four games, well above his season average of 1.8. He believes it is due to the fact that he is showing up on other team’s scouting reports now and because he refers to himself as a “hot guy”.
“So I’m considered a ‘hot guy’ now so a lot of guys are flying at me,” explained Ennis at practice on Tuesday. “So I have to put the ball on the ground and I definitely get to the lane a lot more now.”
It is because of that efficiency from deep that he is beginning to get the respect of other guys around the league and it’s all because of that term that he likes to give himself: “hot guy”.
“I want to be known as a ‘hot guy’, someone who can knock down shots,” he added with a laugh. “So I can get people with my shot-fake now because I’m a ‘hot guy’.”
It is clear that he has a lot of swagger and confidence right now and it’s something that the Sixers will gladly take now that he is that “hot guy” on the team and on the scouting report.
“I guess there is!” exclaimed coach Brett Brown. “Good for him! He’s a great story. He’s come sort of hidden with Miami, then went overseas, then had a taste with Houston, and now here he is with us and he’s having a helluva year.”
The Sixers will now hit the road on Thursday to face the Washington Wizards where they hope Ennis can remain hot. [lawrence-related id=20518,20507,20499]