Tag: Al Horford

Ben Simmons, Tobias Harris lead balanced effort in win over Spurs

Led by Tobias Harris and Ben Simmons, the Sixers handled business against the Spurs Friday night.

The Philadelphia 76ers earned their third straight win with a 115-104 win over the San Antonio Spurs Friday night.

The Sixers established a seven-point advantage at the end of the first quarter and were able to hold off the Spurs the rest of the way. The lead remained at seven at both halftime and at the conclusion of the third quarter, and San Antonio got within a possession several times. But the Sixers never relented, taking control down the stretch and building the lead as high as 13 late in the fourth before taking the 11-point win.

It was a wonderfully balanced effort from the Sixers as all five starters reached double figures, as did James Ennis III off the bench. Tobias Harris was the star Friday night, while Ben Simmons did an excellent job making the Sixers go despite having a tough night shooting the ball.

Harris finished with a team-high 26 points, shooting 10-for-16 from the field and 3-5 from beyond the arc. He added six rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and a steal. He displayed a nice all-around offensive game, scoring from all three levels. It was the kind of performance the Sixers and their fans have been wanting to see from Harris.

As mentioned, Simmons struggled from the field, shooting just 3-for-10 and scoring 10 points. But he finished with a triple-double, adding 13 assist and 10 rebounds. His distribution was a big factor in the win.

Joel Embiid and Al Horford made an impact as well. Embiid finished with 21 points, 14 rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a block. He was 9-for-13 from the field. Horford had an excellent game as well with 18 points, nine rebounds, and six assists.

Despite struggling in a starting role on Wednesday, Furkan Korkmaz was again awarded the start in Josh Richardson’s absence and responded nicely with 17 points, four rebounds, and two steals. He shot 4-for-7 from deep.

It was a quiet night for the bench, but Ennis III had 13 points. Trey Burke struggled, shooting just 2-for-9, but he made a couple nice plays while contributing four points and two assists.

The Sixers were dominant on the glass, winning the rebounding battle 51-32 while pulling down 13 offensive rebounds. They had 32 assists on 46 made baskets (and moving to 5-0 when they have 30+ assists). The shooting was also good, with the Sixers connecting on 51.7% from the floor and 38.5% from deep.

All-in-all it was a solid performance and the Sixers took care of business in a game they were expected to win. They improved to 10-5 on the season and a perfect 6-0 at home. It will be a quick turnaround for the team, as it hosts old friend Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat Saturday night. That game is scheduled for a 7:30 PM tip.

Sixers vs. Spurs preview: Sixers look to make it three wins in a row

The Philadelphia 76ers look to win three games in a row against the San Antonio Spurs.

The Philadelphia 76ers are feeling good being back home after a 1-2 road trip. They knocked off the New York Knicks on Wednesday to remain a perfect 5-0 at home. It wasn’t an easy win by any sort, but a win is a win and it showed off the team’s ability to dig deep and rally from being down big once again.

In come the San Antonio Spurs who are entering on a very un-Spurs like 7-game losing skid. The Spurs are 28th in the league in defensive rating at 114.0 and that type of defense is surprising from a Gregg Popovich coached team.

With that being said, it’s time to break down the matchup with the TV guide, injury report, storylines, and a prediction:

How to watch Sixers vs. Spurs

  • Date: Friday, November 22
  • Time: 8:00 p.m. EST
  • Location: Wells Fargo Center Philadelphia, PA
  • TV: ESPN, NBC Sports Philadelphia

Injury Report

  • Sixers: QUESTIONABLE: Josh Richardson(right hip flexor), Trey Burke(left knee and ankle soreness)
  • Spurs: QUESTIONABLE: Derrick White(left foot soreness)

Storylines

Brown’s respect for Pop

Sixers coach Brett Brown has had plenty of matchups against his former mentor, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, but it’s still always special when they matchup. Brown also does not care what record the Spurs are carrying into the game nor does he care for their 7-game losing skid. He has too much respect for what they have done to sleep on them.

Brown stated on Thursday:

I didn’t even know that number. I don’t care what the number is. They’re coahed by Gregg Popovich and I know the large majority of their coaching staff still exists, not as many of the players, and so I don’t even pay attention to it. I really don’t. My fondness and my respect for Pop and my friendship with Pop is extended 2+ decades and I just don’t care what they’ve been doing and if they had won 15 in a row, I’d give you the same answer. All’s I’m doing is looking down there and seeing Pop and the San Antonio Spurs and I know we better bring our A-game or we’re going to be in for a long night.

Horford not worried about struggles

Al Horford was one of the more hyped free agency pickups over the summer, but has yet to really find his niche offensively. His shooting percentages are down across the board from his 2018-19 season with the Boston Celtics and it’s easy to really begin worrying about him, but the veteran isn’t worried at all. He stated on Thursday at practice:

It’s just the more organized that we are and the more that we understand kind of where we want to be on the court, that determines that. For me, it’s just making sure that I stay ready. I’ve been putting in the work so I just have to continue to do that. I know I’ll be fine.

Prediction

This is not the Spurs of old. There is no Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, or Kawhi Leonard to lead the way. Instead, it’s LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan trying to lead the way and they don’t have the same type of mystique that the Spurs teams of the past. This is another game that Philadelphia should be able to win at home and it gives Joel Embiid a chance to dominate in the paint.

Pick: Sixers win by nine

Sixers vs. Spurs season series

Game 1 November 22:

Game 2 April 10:

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Sixers using newfound stability to facilitate chemistry

With a truly stable roster for the first time in years, the new-look Sixers are looking to build championship-caliber chemistry.

The Philadelphia 76ers have gone through years of upheaval. From the losing and constant player movement of the process years to a roster that was revamped in-season last year as Elton Brand pushed the accelerator on the team’s push to contention, nothing has stayed the same for very long in the Sixers’ world.

Now, that has changed. The team has settled on the core roster construction it hopes will take it to the promised land, and every member of that core is under contract for the foreseeable future. And now, finally, the team has the opportunity to build the type of chemistry that can make the difference when teams find themselves in difficult circumstances like, for instance, tight playoff games/series.

ESPN’s Zach Lowe took a deep dive into the current state of the Sixers in which he shared some interesting tidbits regarding just how the team is going about building that chemistry.

Lowe notes the team celebration that occurred the night of Furkan Korkmaz’s game-winner against the Trail Blazers and how three nights later, in Utah, Ben Simmons joined Joel Embiid and some team staff to watch a Bulls-Lakers game in the hotel lounge. Simmons is noticing a difference. “The chemistry is much better. Guys are giving up their time to bond,” he told ESPN.

Lowe indicates that Al Horford and Tobias Harris have taken the lead in organizing team dinners, with Harris identifying the best steakhouse in each city they visit to please Embiid. Horford stresses the importance of such gatherings, and the team seems to be responding if you consider attendance a reliable indication.

Harris, meanwhile, has noticed a change in the reaction to losses, with the team taking on a much angrier mood in defeat. That, too, is a positive sign.

As the new-look Sixers try to find their way, a strong bond and getting to know each other off the court can only help that process along. On the court, there have been hiccups in this young season, and that will likely continue for a while longer. But news that the team is working to build camaraderie off the court, and finding success, is great news for the Sixers going forward and will only help to further serve the on-court goals.  [lawrence-related id=19822,19579]

 

Al Horford reacts to offensive struggles with Sixers: ‘I’ll be fine’

Philadelphia 76ers big man Al Horford is not worried about his early offensive struggles.

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The Philadelphia 76ers knew this would be an experiment. They knew it would take some time before they find their rhythm offensively. That’s especially true for big man Al Horford who’s shooting percentages have been down across the board in his first 13 games with the Sixers.

In Wednesday’s win over the Knicks, Horford struggles shooting 3-for-11 for seven points and it seemed as if he was just missing some easy looks he would normally knockdown. Everything is still relatively new for the All-Star as he is beginning to really try and find his niche on the offensive end for Philadelphia.

He said at practice on Thursday:

I definitely think that for me it’s still a work in progress and understanding my position and when the shots are coming. I went through a similar transition when I got to Boston and I’m kind of trying to understand what my place is here and figuring that out.

Part of the adjustment is moving back over to the power forward spot and playing with a big man such as Joel Embiid. It is a different role for him in terms of trying to find his offensive role and where his shots are going to be coming from.

He added:

It’s just the more organized that we are and the more that we understand kind of where we want to be on the court, that determines that. For me, it’s just making sure that I stay ready. I’ve been putting in the work so I just have to continue to do that. I know I’ll be fine.

Horford is a career 36.5% shooter from deep, but he is shooting 32.2% from deep so far with the Sixers on 4.5 attempts per game and his overall field goal percentage is down to 43.4% after it was at 53.5% in 2018-19 with the Celtics. Due to the way the league is trending and because of the way the Sixers are built, it’s putting more pressure on Horford to step up and shoot more 3-pointers.

Philadelphia is a team that is short on “sharpshooters” so it puts the onus on Horford and others to really figure out the spacing. It’s a work in progress right now.

He stated:

It’s not as simple. It’s a little more complex. I just think that we have the mentality that we want to attack, we want to get in the paint, we all want to get in there and score, and whether if I have a mistmatch of if Ben(Simmons) has a mismatch, we’re all in there. It’s just recognizing in the middle of a game if you see someone else then you kind of find your place and respace and things like that. I think they’rell good intentions. The more games that we play, I feel like the better things will be.

Once again, this will not be an overnight process. This will definitely take some time in order to find their groove. Their next chance to grow will be Friday when they welcome in the San Antonio Spurs. [lawrence-related id=19785,19777,19768]

Sixers have too much respect for Gregg Popovich to look past Spurs

The Philadelphia 76ers are not overlooking the San Antonio Spurs ahead of Friday’s matchup.

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When the San Antonio Spurs pay a visit to the Wells Fargo Center and the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night, they will be carrying with them a seven-game losing streak. A streak that is not synonymous with the Spurs during the Gregg Popovich era.

These aren’t your father’s Spurs. This isn’t the consistent title contender, in wich Sixers coach Brett Brown was a part of, led by Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili. This Spurs team is led by good players like LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan, but they haven’t been able to lift the Spurs out of their struggles.

Despite all of that, the Sixers are not going to let their guard down for one reason: Popovich is still coaching.

Brown stated at practice when asked about San Antonio’s skid:

I didn’t even know that number. I don’t care what the number is. They’re coahed by Gregg Popovich and I know the large majority of their coaching staff still exists, not as many of the players, and so I don’t even pay attention to it. I really don’t. My fondness and my respect for Pop and my friendship with Pop is extended 2+ decades and I just don’t care what they’ve been doing and if they had won 15 in a row, I’d give you the same answer. All’s I’m doing is looking down there and seeing Pop and the San Antonio Spurs and I know we better bring our A-game or we’re going to be in for a long night.

Brown had been an assistant coach with the Spurs for nine seasons before becoming a head coach in Philadelphia to begin the 2013-14 season. He has seen the success of the Popovich system as the Spurs have made the playoffs for a ridiculous 22 consecutive seasons. They can’t sleep on them.

Al Horford, who has been in the league for now 13 seasons, is shocked to see San Antonio struggling the way they have been to begin the season. He added:

It’s very weird. You’re not used to seeing that.

Tipoff in Philadelphia is set for 8:00 p.m. EST from South Philadelphia. [lawrence-related id=19777,19768,19744]

Al Horford, Brett Brown believe Sixers need to be better defensively

The Philadelphia 76ers believe they need to be better on the defensive end for them to really succeed.

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The Philadelphia 76ers are a team that has consistently stated that the defense is where their money is going to be made. There have been times when it has looked dominant, then there are other times when it has looked terrible and not as good as advertised. Despite rallying to win on Wednesday and really locking in on the defensive end, the Sixers realize they have got to get better on that end of the floor.

Al Horford, one of the big free agency pickups in the league, preached that at practice on Thursday as he believes it has to be there for a full game rather than for one stretch. He said:

On defense, we can be much better. We haven’t been as good as we can defensively…Ben(Simmons) really set the tone in that regard(on Wednesday). He really got into the ball, he got over screens, he was playing with that energy, and coached talked to us that we need to be able to start from the beginning with that intensity. We need to have that physicality right from the beginning of the game.

Coach Brett Brown then echoed Horford’s thoughts that the team does need to get better on that end. Especially after giving up a 15-0 run to the Knicks to open the second half in the win on Wednesday.

Most of that is 3-point shooting as Philadelphia gives up only 9.9 3-pointers made per game, good for third in the league, but against New York on Wednesday, they allowed them to shot 52% from deep. It’s something that needs to be fixed.

Brown added:

We need to be better defensively, because we can be. There are things with the offense that take time and I’m prepared to be patient and try to fix spacial things more than anything. It’s not like it’s a magic bean, space in pick-and-rolls, space on posts, space in early offense, it’s space. So you go over to the defensive side and say ‘well you lead the NBA in fewest threes, but they make quite a bit when they do shoot them’ I’m going to something global, we better be better defensively.

The Sixers continue their homestand on Friday by hosting Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs. [lawrence-related id=19768,19744,19745]

How to Watch Philadelphia 76ers, NBA Live Stream, Knicks vs 76ers, Schedule, TV Channel, Start Time

Watch the Philadelphia 76ers Live Online.

Trusting the process has finally paid off in Philadelphia. After a long rebuilding period, the 76ers are now legitimate contenders in the Eastern Conference. In 2018, the young Sixers emerged as a serious threat late in the season with a remarkable 16-game win streak to close out the season. While their playoff run was cut short due to a loss to the eventual NBA champion Toronto Raptors, there’s a ton of expectations and hope for 2019. 

Watch the Philadelphia 76ers 2019-20 Season

Tonight: vs. New York Knicks, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 7:00 p.m. ET 

Local TV affiliate for the season: NBC Sports Philadelphia

Streaming option for the season: fuboTV (watch for free)

So far, so good for the Sixers. All-Star center Joel Embiid has picked up right where he left off last season. He’s averaging 22.3 points per game, while also averaging 11.8 rebounds. Couple him with offseason acquisition Al Horford, who is putting up 15.9 points and 7.4 boards per game, and they have formed one of the most formidable frontcourt tandems in the league. 

Philly isn’t just strong in the paint. In fact, the team has five players averaging double-figures in points. The Sixers also have a very solid bench to pull from in case of injury or fatigue. It’s for these reasons that many believe they’ll challenge for the top spot in the East. It won’t be easy with the likes of Milwaukee and Boston again looking strong, but there’s a ton of optimism around this talented bunch. 

Sixers November 2019 Schedule 

Tue, Nov. 12 vs. Cleveland 7:00 PM 

Wed, Nov. 13 @ Orlando 7:00 PM

Fri, Nov. 15 @ Oklahoma City 8:00 PM

Sun, Nov. 17 @ Cleveland 3:00 PM

Wed, Nov. 20 vs. New York 7:00 PM

Fri, Nov. 22 vs. San Antonio 8:00 PM

Sat, Nov. 23 vs. Miami 7:30 PM

Mon, Nov. 25 @ Toronto 7:30 PM

Wed, Nov. 27 vs. Sacramento 7:00 PM

Fri, Nov. 29 @ New York 7:30 PM

Sat, Nov. 30 vs. Indiana 7:00 PM

We recommend interesting sports viewing and streaming opportunities. If you sign up to a service by clicking one of the links, we may earn a referral fee.

Sixers vs. Knicks preview: Sixers look to continue home dominance

The Philadelphia 76ers return home to host the New York Knicks.

The Philadelphia 76ers return home from a 3-game road trip that saw them drop the first two games, but then salvage a win in the finale of the trip to come home with some momentum. Their opponent on Wednesday night should offer the Sixers another “get right” game for them to shake off the cobwebs a bit.

Wednesday’s opponent, the hapless New York Knicks, come in with the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference at 4-10 and they have not been able to find any real groove or footing to begin the season. This is a good chance for the Sixers to really get some momentum going into the next phase of the season.

With that being said, it’s time for the preview with everything you have come to expect:

How to watch Sixers vs. Knicks

  • Date: Wednesday, November 20
  • Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
  • Location: Wells Fargo Center Philadelphia, PA
  • TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia

Injury Report

  • Sixers: NONE
  • Knicks: OUT: Reggie Bullock(neck), Elfrid Payton(right hamstring strain) PROBABLE: RJ Barret(left thumb sprain)

Storylines

Brown working out Sixers offense

The Sixers offense has looked out of sorts to begin the early season as they begin to really figure out the best way to work this oddly constructed roster. Coach Brett Brown has an uphill battle to really figure everything out and it won’t be an easy mission to complete.

Brown stated:

I think that my problems of conern at the moment are offensively related. It’s how do you take this team and grow it to where it’s functional and purposeful and I think that I said, and now that I’m living in it I mean it even more, I think it’s going to take every bit until Christmas to get some type of rhythm beat to what we do. Along that path, we will never forget, led by me, that we are a defensive based program and everything unravels if we don’t do that.

Horford thinks the defense can be better

On the flip side of things, the Sixers are expected to be an elite defensive team and heading into Wednesday’s game, the Sixers are ranked 11th in the league in defensive rating. It is not a terrible ranking for a team so new and one trying to work out a lot of kinks, but not where the Sixers expect to be.

Al Horford believes the defense can get better as he stated:

I think our defense is good, but I think it can be a lot better. I do believe that the more games we play and the more comfortable we get, the better it will be.

The more these guys play together, the better things will get better for this team as a whole.

Prediction

The Knicks are just not a good team. Julius Randle and RJ Barrett are good talents, but the roster as a whole is oddly constructed. Unlike the Sixers, the Knicks don’t have the talent to overcome the early awkwardness of the roster’s growing pains. Mitchell Robinson presents a challenge at the rim and he will give Joel Embiid a test down low, but the Sixers are the much more talented team and they should keep their record at home nice and clean.

Pick: Sixers by double-digits

Sixers vs. Knicks season series

Game 1 November 20:

Game 2 November 29:

Game 3 January 18:

Game 4 February 27:

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Brett Brown says his concerns with Sixers are ‘offensively related’

Philadelphia 76ers coach Brett Brown says his focus is on helping the Sixers on the offensive end right now.

When presented with a roster as oddly constructed as the Philadelphia 76ers are, it is going to be tough to find a flow and a rhythm offensively. The Sixers are currently bucking the recent trend of everybody playing small and they are rolling out big lineups led by Joel Embiid and Al Horford.

After a 1-2 road trip that saw the Sixers get destroyed in the fourth quarter to start the trip in a loss to the Orlando Magic and then saw the offense big down late in a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, coach Brett Brown says the offense is most on his mind as the team returns home.

Brown stated at practice on Tuesday:

I think that the Oklahoma City game was the poorest defensive game that we played all year, but I think that my problems of conern at the moment are offensively related. It’s how do you take this team and grow it to where it’s functional and purposeful and I think that I said, and now that I’m living in it I mean it even more, I think it’s going to take every bit until Christmas to get some type of rhythm beat to what we do. Along that path, we will never forget, led by me, that we are a defensive based program and everything unravels if we don’t do that.

The Sixers are not today’s type of NBA team. They are rolling out two traditional bigs in Embiid and Horford, they have a 6-foot-10 point guard who refuses to shoot, and they have wing players in Tobias Harris and Josh Richardson who are not sharpshooters. This will not happen overnight, it might very well take until Christmas to figure it all out.

It has led to the team being ranked 18th in the league in offensive rating at 107.1 and ranked 19th in the league in 3-point shooting percentage at 34.1%.

Brown added:

It’s just confirmed that it’s an interesting team to put together with different skill sets and that’s my job. So, I leave the trip completely with that in the back of my mind.

The Sixers do return to the home floor on Wednesday as they host the New York Knicks from the Wells Fargo Center at 7:00 p.m. EST. [lawrence-related id=19548,19556,19539]

Sixers big man Al Horford on defense: ‘I think it can be a lot better’

Philadelphia 76ers big man Al Horford says the Sixers can be even better defensively.

The Philadelphia 76ers are a team that is built to contend for championships in the 2019-20 season and the way they plan on doing it is around their defense. The amount of long and lengthy, agile, players in their arsenal makes it easier to play defense, but one of those assets believes it can be better.

Al Horford, acquired in free agency over the summer, believes the Sixers can improve on their defense. For a team being so new, the Sixers do have a defensive rating of 104.1 which is good for 11th in the league, but it has to improve in order for the Sixers to take the next step.

Horford stated at practice on Tuesday:

I think our defense is good, but I think it can be a lot better. I do believe that the more games we play and the more comfortable we get, the better it will be.

The Sixers have given up 110.7 points per game on the road compared to 97.8 points at home and with their next three games at home, it should be able to help them continue to grow as a team. For all of the newness, it’s been tough to gain chemistry and win games on the road at the same time. It’s always good to be back at home.

Horford added:

It does feel good. Being on the road is hard and just being able to come home and have our fans rally behind us. It’s good for a change.

The Sixers will host the New York Knicks on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. EST from the Wells Fargo Center. [lawrence-related id=19539,19486,19474]