The Philadelphia 76ers were able to have a productive practice and it was beneficial for them.
To get back on track, you’ve got to hit the practice court and figure some things out. For the Philadelphia 76ers, that’s exactly what they did on Thursday as they made a quick pit stop home before heading to Houston on Friday to finish a four-game road trip.
Most of the talk was surrounded by the comments made by Josh Richardson and rightfully so, but getting back to practice was a good step for a Sixers team that has played a lot of games recently.
“I think it’s just honesty,” coach Brett Brown said of Richardson’s comments. “He said what he said and he’s trying to figure out his place in the program. I respect it. I understand it, I think we’ll be better off for it, and I think today’s practice was awesome. It’s one of the first days you’ve been able to sweat and have a legitimate practice in a very, very long time.”
The Sixers had a long practice on Thursday following the debacle on New Year’s Eve against the Indiana Pacers, but it was needed. It was needed to get these guys back in the gym and actually have a practice rather than figuring it out on the fly in games.
“In the grand scheme of things, it’s three games,” said Ben Simmons. “Obviously we know we should’ve had better games, a couple of them we should have won. We had a great practice today, everyone was locked in. It was good to be back.”
Al Horford, who had a rough December averaging just 9.9 points on 40.1% shooting, agreed that the practice on Thursday was much needed for this group.
“I think today we took a step forward,” said Horford. “We had a really good practice. I was very encouraged by it.”
Practice can always be a good thing for a team. To get together and be able to work on some things without the pressure of having to win a game. The three-game losing streak is discouraging, but to be able to eradicate that problem, the Sixers can use this practice to get back on track.
Philadelphia faces the Houston Rockets on Friday to conclude the road trip. [lawrence-related id=22566,22557,22549]
The Philadelphia 76ers react to the lack of accountability criticisms.
The Philadelphia 76ers have had a whirlwind week following their dominant Christmas Day win over the Milwaukee Bucks. They have followed that up with an 0-3 start to their four-game road trip and after a loss to the Indiana Pacers on New Year’s Eve, Josh Richardson claimed that there was not enough accountability in the locker room.
As the team made a pit stop home and got back to work on Thursday before heading to Houston for Friday’s game, the Sixers reacted to the claim.
“I agree,” said Ben Simmons. “We sat down and talked about it this morning. We all know why we’re here and what we want to get out of being here and that’s a championship. We just have to hold each other accountable.”
“It’s one of those things where it’s ups and downs,” Simmons added. “You’re not going to go 82-0. As long as we stay together and don’t lose our minds, we’re going to be good. I think we’ll be fine.”
While Simmons strongly agreed with his teammate’s claim, Joel Embiid was a little indifferent towards the claim.
“We’re good,” said Embiid. “We’ve had a rough last three games, but we’re good. I don’t really want to share what goes on inside, but we’re good. I feel like everybody has a good spirit and we know we’re going to get out of it…everybody just needs to get their confidence back.”
The Sixers will head to Houston on Friday to face James Harden, Russell Westbrook, and the Rockets. [lawrence-related id=22539,22521,22512]
Ben Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers react to the passing of former NBA commissioner David Stern.
The NBA world was rocked on New Year’s Day when the league lost a very influential man in the success of the NBA in former commissioner David Stern.
Stern passed away after a battle with a brain hemorrhage for which he has been hospitalized since December 17. He was 77-years old and he was the commissioner of the league for 30 years from 1984 to 2014 and he helped the league get bigger on a global scale.
Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons hails from Australia where basketball is not the country’s first sport. He tweeted out a thank you to Stern for making the game global and one must wonder that if Stern did not do what he did for the game, then maybe he isn’t playing basketball right now.
RIP David Stern, a trail blazer in making the NBA truly a global sport. We canât thank you enough. Condolences to the Stern Family đđ˝
The Sixers organization also released their own statement as Stern helped mentor a lot of young executives in the league. Philadelphia cited that some of those people in the Harris & Blitzer organization right now.
The NBA truly lost a giant in the history of the game. We here at Sixers Wire offer our serious condolences to his family in this tough time. [lawrence-related id=22521,22512,22504]
The Philadelphia 76ers get blown out by the Indiana Pacers to fall to 0-3 on the road trip.
The Philadelphia 76ers were looking to bounce back from two bad losses in Florida to begin their road trip. Instead, without big man Joel Embiid, they got smacked by the Indiana Pacers 112-90 to remain winless on their four-game road trip.
Josh Richardson led Philadelphia with 20 points and five assists, Ben Simmons had 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Tobias Harris and Furkan Korkmaz had nine points each.
Kyle O’Quinn started in place of Embiid and finished with four points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, but coach Bret Brown decided to roll with Norvel Pelle to start the second half and he finished with two points and two rebounds.
The game turned in the second quarter when Indiana went on a huge run and they outscored Philadelphia 38-16 to take a big lead going into halftime. From there, the Sixers could not recover as the Pacers led by as many as 36 points.
Indiana was led by Domantas Sabonis with 23 points and 10 rebounds, T.J. Warren had 21 points and former Sixer T.J. McConnell had 11 points and 10 assists off the bench.
Philadelphia will conclude their road trip on Friday when they face the Houston Rockets. [lawrence-related id=22484,22468,22471]
As the calendar flips to 2020, here are four things the Sixers can do to help them get to where they want to go.
It’s already been an eventful season for the 2019-20 Philadelphia 76ers. Entering the season with sky-high expectations, the team is off to a 23-12 start and sits fifth in the Eastern Conference, not exactly where they hoped to be with the calendar ready to flip to 2020.
The mood around the team is a bit sour at the moment as the Sixers are coming off consecutive losses, one to the 13-17 Orlando Magic and one to the Miami Heat in which Philadelphia held a five-point lead with just over a minute to go. Still, it’s important to remember that the team also holds wins over all the other top Eastern Conference contenders: the Bucks, Heat, Celtics, and Raptors.
It’s been a bumpy ride so far, but everything the team hoped to accomplish is still there for the taking. With that, let’s look at four New Year’s resolutions that could help the team get to where it wants to go.
Consistent effort/not playing down to the competition
Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of the Sixers so far this season is their tendency to play down to the competition and a lack of consistent effort, especially at the defensive end.
Regarding the first point, while the Sixers have those aforementioned big wins, they also own losses to teams like the Suns, Wizards, Nets, and Magic. There are going to be letdowns during an 82 game season, but it’s becoming a trend for the Sixers and it could come back to haunt them come playoff time. Elite teams handle their business against lesser opponents, and so far the Sixers haven’t done that.
Equally as disturbing, the team demonstrates wild fluctuations in effort and focus. The Sixers entered the season with expectations of being a defensive juggernaut, and they’ve shown why at times. However, at other times the defensive intensity wanes, and this appears to happen often when the team is struggling at the offensive end. That shouldn’t happen. Elite defensive teams make that end of the floor their foundation, using it to both carry them through offensive lulls and to spark the offense. Instead, the Sixers seem to lose interest in defense when shots start not to fall and end up compounding the offensive issues.
For the Sixers to be the team we expected them to be, they need to start asserting themselves against lesser competition and making consistent defense their foundation.
Cut the turnovers
We sound like a broken record here, as an issue the team has had for years continues to plague it. The Sixers currently rank 20th in the league in turnovers per game at 15.5, up from 15.1 a season ago. Compounding the issue is the fact that the team’s two cornerstones, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, are the biggest culprits.
Embiid said he spent the summer working on the issue, and at times he has shown improvement. But at other times he struggles as much as he ever has.
Making matters worse, a lot of these turnovers come late in games, making them even more problematic.
Despite all the roster tinkering, at the end of the day the Sixers will only go as far as Simmons and Embiid take them, and the duo, along with their teammates, need to clean up the turnovers.
Get more from transition
Admittedly, the Sixers aren’t built to be an elite transition team. Still, the team needs to get more out of getting out and running. The team ranks 22nd in the league with 1.062 points per possession in transition, per Synergy Sports, and despite the roster construction, that’s not enough.
Ben Simmons can be a one-man fast break, and his hunting buckets in transition would go a long way toward offsetting some of his other offensive limitations.
In addition to helping Simmons be more productive, an increase in transition scoring could help the Sixers offset the inconsistent shooting they have and will continue to experience. The Sixers have capable shot-makers, but no sharpshooter, and there are going to be nights where the shots aren’t falling. Getting out on the break could help them overcome bad shooting nights.
This iteration of the Sixers is never going to be a run-and-gun type team, but Brett Brown can tinker with the rotations to produce lineups that are more conducive to running, and it’s something he should do to both maximize Simmons’ abilities and to help his team on nights when the shots aren’t falling.
Improved pick and roll play
The Sixers don’t run a ton of pick and roll, but it’s a staple of NBA offense and the team will need to continue utilizing it at least occasionally. So far this season, their production in such situations is poor.
Again per Synergy Sports, the Sixers rank 25th in the league when utilizing the P&R ballhandler, netting 0.792 points per possession. Using the roll man, they rank 30th with 0.964 PPP.
Even if the team doesn’t want to lean heavily on the P&R, it needs to be better. Given the roster construction, the team has plenty of different P&R combinations it can play with. It’s up to Brown to find the right combinations to boost the team’s productivity in such situations.
Josh Richardson, Tobias Harris, Trey Burke, and even Furkan Korkmaz have decent numbers has the P&R ballhandler. Joel Embiid and Al Horford have the skills to be effective in the P&R and can also be a threat to “pop” rather than roll. Using Simmons as a screener is another way Brown can get creative in the P&R, although his refusal to shoot from distance can complicate that option.
Much like getting out on the break, the Sixers aren’t going to be a team that just comes down the court and runs P&R after P&R, and that’s okay. But they also aren’t going to be able to completely ignore it, and Brown needs to find a way for them to be more efficient when they do run it.
The Philadelphia 76ers head to Indianapolis to face the Pacers to continue the road trip.
The Philadelphia 76ers are a team with championship aspirations, but their last two losses have left a lot of questions. The Sixers did not respond well to the physicality presented by the Orlando Magic to begin the road trip and then they committed plenty of errors down the stretch in a bizarre loss to the Miami Heat on Saturday.
They head to Indianapolis on New Year’s Eve to face the Indiana Pacers as they look to continue this journey and grow as a group. Indiana is one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference and they play well at home so this will be another challenge for this Sixers team as they continue their road trip.
With that said, it’s now time for the guide to the final game of the decade:
How to watch Sixers vs. Pacers
Date:Â Tuesday, December 31
Time:Â 3:00 p.m. EST
Location:Â Bankers Life Fieldhouse Indianapolis, IN
TV:Â NBC Sports Philadelphia
Injury Report
Sixers:Â OUT: Matisse Thybulle(right knee sprain)
Pacers:Â PROBABLE: Malcolm Brogdon(sore left hamstring) QUESTIONABLE: Edmond Sumner(sore right knee) OUT: Victor Oladipo(right knee surgery rehab), Naz Mitrou-Long(right ankle sprain)
Storylines
Finding a consistent energy level
The Sixers did not show up until it was too late in Orlando on Friday as they found themselves having to play desperation basketball as they came close to pulling off the comeback before falling short. In Miami, they had a lead and then had a bad stretch in the third quarter, they then responded, but then they blew it late. Philadelphia needs to find a more consistent level of effort and continue to play for 48 minutes.
âIf we want to be a championship team, we canât be picky and choosy when we want to play with that kind of intensity,â Trey Burke added. âIâm sure these last few losses sting, but weâll watch film and grow from it.â
Embiid accepts responsibility
The main culprit of Saturday’s loss was Joel Embiid. As terrific as he was for the large majority of the game, Embiid committed a very bad turnover late that led to Heat rookie Tyler Herro drilling a clutch triple late to give Miami the lead. Philadelphia responded to force overtime before ultimately falling short. Embiid stepped up and accepted responsibility for his miscues.
âIt starts with me,â said Embiid. âI turned the ball over. I could have done much better than I did.â
Prediction
Indiana is no pushover. Despite not having Victor Oladipo, they play good defense, they move the ball, and they play hard for the full 48 minutes. This will be a good challenge for a Sixers team still really trying to find their way. After the two losses to begin the road trip, this will be a game where they need to make sure they buckle down and get a win. It will be a nice challenge for this team.
With the recent decade now suddenly in the rearview mirror, we looked at the top player who defined the 2010s for each team in the NBA.
With the recent decade now suddenly in the rearview mirror, we looked at the top player who defined the 2010s for each team in the NBA.
Atlanta Hawks:Â Al Horford
(Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Paul Milsap, Jeff Teague
The Atlanta Hawks were defined by their depth under former head coach Mike Budenholzer. It is what helped their entire starting lineup earn Eastern Conference Co-Players of the Month back in January 2015. But the best player during this era was Al Horford. The big man averaged 15.9 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game from the 2010-11 season until he left the team during the 2016 offseason.
Boston Celtics: Paul Pierce
(Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Al Horford, Isaiah Thomas
Even though he won the 2008 NBA championship and the Finals MVP in 2008, Paul Pierce went on to make the Eastern Conference All-Star team three more times this decade. Before he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in the summer of 2013, he was averaging 18.9 points and 5.6 rebounds with 4.1 assists this decade. Pierce even had a chance to officially retire with the organization on a one-day contract in July 2017.
Brooklyn Nets: Brook Lopez
(Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Deron Williams, Joe Johnson
Before they were the franchise that managed to sign both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in the same offseason, the Nets were long led by Brook Lopez. He was a member of the team both in New Jersey and in their move to the new home in Brooklyn back in 2012, which was his first and only career All-Star appearance. During his tenure with the team this decade, the big man put up 19.7 points and 6.6 rebounds as well as 1.7 blocks per game.
Charlotte Hornets: Kemba Walker
(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Marvin Williams, Nicolas Batum
During a tough decade for the Hornets, the one thing that kept them alive and interesting was star point guard Kemba Walker. He was a part of the team as a member of the Bobcats and then when they rebranded as the Hornets. Walker was a two-time All-Star as well as a two-time recipient of the NBA Sportsmanship Award. The guard averaged 19.9 points, 5.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game for the team during the decade before he joined the Celtics.
Chicago Bulls: Jimmy Butler
(Photo by Randy Belice/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah
When former No. 1 overall pick Derrick Rose won MVP in 2011 at 22 years old, fans in Chicago fairly assumed they would have a new defining talent for their city. Unfortunately, serious injuries made the point guard become a less impactful player than projected. However, the blow was softened a bit with the sudden emergence of a late first-round pick in Jimmy Butler. The wing won the league’s Most Improved Player in 2015. He was a difference-maker on both sides of the ball, averaging 15.6 points and 1.5 steals per game with the Bulls.
Cleveland Cavaliers: LeBron James
(Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love
Considering that Cleveland’s hometown hero LeBron James notably left the Cavaliers as a free agent in 2010, few would have expected him to still be the Player of the Decade for this franchise. After such an ugly exit memorialized forever with a public shaming by team owner Dan Gilbert, though, James is a player who more than made up for the first early goodbye when he actually returned in 2014. All that he had to do was win the city’s first championship in any sport since 1948. In the process, he averaged an absurd 26.1 points per game with 7.7 rebounds and 8.0 assists for the Cavs in the 2010s.
Dallas Mavericks: Dirk Nowitzki
(Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Shawn Marion, Luka Doncic
Even though he was drafted in 1998, the undisputed most important in the career of Dirk Nowitzki happened in 2011 when he won a title and NBA Finals MVP. While his best playing days may have been before this decade, he still managed to be a perennial All-Star. The face of the franchise, he also won the league’s award for Teammate of the Year in 2017. His presence was felt, too, during his final season in the league as he helped ease the transition into the new era led by fellow European star Luka Doncic.
Denver Nuggets: Nikola Jokic
(Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Kenneth Faried, Ty Lawson
The Denver Nuggets may have hit the lottery when they selected Serbian big man Nikola Jokic with the 41st overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft. Jokic is a talent like no other in the league and has become one of the more versatile players in recent memory. He has averaged 16.4 points, 9.6 rebounds and 5.3 assists for the Nuggets and the most exciting part is that he may still plenty of room to improve. At just 24 years old, the center could also be the best player of the decade in the 2020s for the Nuggets as well.
Detroit Pistons: Andre Drummond
(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Greg Monroe, Blake Griffin
Despite not coming into the league until 2013, Detroit Pistons big man Andre Drummond has the second-most rebounds in the NBA since 2010-11. He has led the NBA in rebounds three times, twice earning All-Star considerations. Drummond has been consistent in his role and despite the team not being much of a contender, he has made his presence felt day in and day out.
Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant
The things that Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry was able to accomplish during the 2010s were almost laughable. He was a back-to-back NBA MVP who won the championship three times. Curry led the Warriors to an unbelievable 73-9 regular season while topping the league in scoring and in steals in 2016 as well. He also connected on 3.8 three-pointers per game, which is 0.9 more than the next-best player during the decade. Curry has clearly redefined the way the game is played and is a generational talent unlike any we have ever seen step foot on a basketball court.
Houston Rockets: James Harden
(Photo by Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Dwight Howard, Clint Capela
There has been no trade recently that changed the league quite like the one that sent the 2012 Sixth Man of the Year winner James Harden from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Houston Rockets. He has been an All-Star every year for Houston and led the league in assists 2017. The guard then led the league in scoring in 2018 as the NBA MVP and then again in 2019. Harden has put up an absurd 29.6 points with 6.0 rebounds and 7.7 assists for the Rockets. In an age of analytics, he has been the darling for general manager Daryl Morey.
Indiana Pacers: Paul George
(Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: David West, George Hill
Former Indiana Pacers wing Paul George was a four-time All-Star with the franchise, winning NBA’s Most Improved Player in 2013. The two-way star also received All-Defensive team honors three times while with the team. He averaged 18.1 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game for Indiana during his team with the Pacers. One of the other best factors about George is that his trade allowed Indiana’s front office to acquire two-time All-Star Victor Oladipo and potential first-time All-Star big man Domantis Sabonis.
LA Clippers: Chris Paul
(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan
Before there was Kawhi Leonard and Paul George on the Clippers, there was Lob City. None of the success happening for the franchise now would be possible if it weren’t for Chris Paul and Blake Griffin. The tide was turning when Griffin was drafted in 2009 and won Rookie of the Year in 2011. But it was solidified when they traded for CP3 in December 2011. Paul averaged an impressive 18.8 points and 9.8 assists with 2.2 steals per game when he was a member of the Clippers. He made the All-Star team five times in Los Angeles and twice led the NBA in assists during that time.
Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Bryant
(Photo credit should read FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Pau Gasol, LeBron James
Unlike with Nowitzki, the peak accomplishments for Kobe Bryant occurred before 2010. But even during this decade, he added another NBA title to his arsenal and an All-Star appearance each year before retiring in 2016. Bryant averaged 24.2 points per game for the Lakers starting in 2010-11, which was above average for someone who was his age. Of course, there was little more memorable than Bryant scoring 60 points in his final professional game.
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES: MARC GASOL
(Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Mike Conley, Zach Randolph
Former Memphis Grizzlies big man Marc Gasol averaged 15.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists during his time with the Grizzlies this decade. He made three All-Star appearances while a member of the franchise, winning Defensive Player of the Year in 2013. The center was a fixture for Memphis, making the playoffs six times with the Grizzlies. Gasol, a World Cup winner with Spain, eventually won his first NBA title in 2019 with the Toronto Raptors after a midseason trade.
Miami Heat: Dwyane Wade
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: LeBron James, Chris Bosh
While it was obvious that James was the best player on the team, none of The Big 3 era Miami Heat would have been possible if it were not for Dwyane Wade. He was the instrumental player recruiting both James and Chris Bosh to Miami and even gave up more money in the process to allow it to happen. Wade also sacrificed his role as the key star to make room for more touches to both James and Bosh. This led to two more NBA Finals wins for Wade and All-Star appearances between 2010 and 2016. He was also able to come back to the Heat and retire with the franchise.
Milwaukee Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo has been one of the most dominant basketball players in recent memory. He has averaged 19.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game since entering the league. After winning the NBA MVP in 2019, he has followed up with an equally impressive season so far this year. His play has been so sharp that one of the league’s most pressing questions, even now a year and a half away from his eligibility, is what will he decide to do as an upcoming free agent.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Karl-Anthony Towns
(Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Kevin Love, Andrew Wiggins
After trading away Kevin Love to the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2014 offseason, the Minnesota Timberwolves were able to bounce back in some ways by grabbing No. 1 overall pick Karl-Anthony Towns. He has played the part of one of the elite big men in the NBA, averaging 22.5 points and 11.8 rebounds per game since entering the pros. Towns has also made 39.6 percent of his three-point attempts, showing his versatility as an offensive force.
New Orleans Pelicans: Anthony Davis
(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Jrue Holiday, Ryan Anderson
His exit may have left a sour taste in the mouth of the New Orleans Pelicans, but Anthony Davis was absolutely stellar during his time with the team. He averaged 23.7 points and 10.5 rebounds per game and also led the league in blocks three times. Davis was a six-time All-Star for the Pelicans and while he now plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, his return will leave New Orleans in a fine place for the upcoming decade. Not only did the front office get an unreal surplus of draft picks in the deal but Brandon Ingram is playing like a potential superstar.
New York Knicks: Carmelo Anthony
(Photo by Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images)
It was a relatively underwhelming decade for the New York Knicks under team owner James Dolan. The front office mortgaged quite a bit of their future to secure Carmelo Anthony via trade in 2011 despite knowing that the star would become a free agent that offseason. As such, the team was a bit of a one-man show under his leadership. He averaged 24.7 points as well as 7.0 rebounds per game on the Knicks, eventually leaving in 2017.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Kevin Durant
(Photo by Layne Murdoch/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka
The Oklahoma City Thunder somehow drafted three MVP winners who all hit their primes during the 2010s. While none of them is still with the team, the one who made the biggest splash was Kevin Durant. The former No. 2 overall pick put up 28.6 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game while also shooting 38.6 percent from three-point range. Even though point guard Russell Westbrook was the player who had the longest tenure with the team, it was obvious that Oklahoma City was the most successful version of itself with Durant on the roster.
Orlando Magic: Nikola Vucevic
(Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Dwight Howard, Evan Fournier
Orlando Magic big man Nikola Vucevic might be the most underrated NBA player of the decade. He made just one All-Star appearance, finally earning the love last season. While he originally started his career in Philadelphia, he has found a niche in Orlando. The former No. 16 overall pick has averaged 16.8 points and 10.7 rebounds per game for the Magic.
Philadelphia 76ers: Joel Embiid
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Ben Simmons, Thaddeus Young
His career may have started off defined by injury but since he has become a healthier player, there have been few with a higher ceiling than Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid. The big man has scored 24.2 points and pulled down 11.6 rebounds per game. He made the NBA All-Rookie First Team his first year in the league back in 2017. He has made the All-Star team, All-NBA Second Team and All-Defensive Second Team in both years since.
Phoenix Suns: Devin Booker
(Photo by Barry Gossage NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Goran Dragic, PJ Tucker
The Phoenix Suns have not had a decade many fans will want to look back on with fond memories. But the one takeaway is that there is at least some hope for the future due to the scoring punch of Devin Booker. He has been able to put up 21.7 points and 4.5 assists per game since he entered the NBA just two days before his 19th birthday. Booker put up 70 points back in March 2017 and at just 20 years old, he was the youngest player to put up 60 points in an NBA game. Back in March 2019, Booker had three games in a row where he scored at least 48 points.
Portland Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard
(Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: LaMarcus Aldridge, CJ McCollum
There are few players in NBA history who have embraced their team’s city quite like Trail Blazers star has welcomed Portland into his life. After he was drafted No. 6 overall in 2012, he has turned his the Blazers into one of the most consistent contenders in the league. Lillard, who won Rookie of the Year his first season in the pros, is a four-time All-Star. He was honored with All-NBA 1st Team consideration in 2018 and led Portland to the Western Conference Finals in 2019. He has averaged 23.7 points and 6.4 assists per game for the Trail Blazers during his professional career thus far.
Sacramento Kings: DeMarcus Cousins
(Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Isaiah Thomas, Rudy Gay
While the Sacramento Kings had a disappointing decade in many ways, their most feared player during the 2010s was undeniably DeMarcus Cousins. He was a force to be reckoned with on the Kings, averaging 21.1 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. He earned All-Rookie First Team honors in 2011 and he then took home All-NBA 2nd Team in 2015 and 2016. The big man was also disciplined and suspended a bit too often for comfort during his time on the Kings, eventually leading to an inevitable divorce of the two parties.
San Antonio Spurs: Kawhi Leonard
SAN ANTONIO, TX – (Photo byJoe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Tim Duncan, Tony Parker
When he won NBA Finals MVP in 2014, it was clear that former No. 15 overall pick Kawhi Leonard was a special player in this league. But he was able to take his game to the next level during his time with the San Antonio Spurs, also winning back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards for his efforts in 2015 and 2016. Leonard, who led the league in steals in 2015, also came into his own on the offensive side of the floor while before his time in San Antonio came to a surprisingly ugly close that kept him sidelined for the majority of 2017-18.
Toronto Raptors: Kyle Lowry
(Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: DeMar DeRozan, Kawhi Leonard
While it was Leonard who was the undisputed best player of the team that won the Toronto Raptors their first NBA championship, veteran point guard Kyle Lowry was the heart and soul of the squad. After the team traded away his longtime teammate DeMar DeRozan during the 2018 offseason, the year was inevitably going to be an emotional rollercoaster for Lowry. But for him to respond by helping Toronto finally carry the Larry O’Brien trophy was an effort that solidified his place as the Player of the Decade for the Raptors.
Utah Jazz: Rudy Gobert
(Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors
If general fans valued defense the same way they value offense, Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert would be considered one of the Top 10 players in the NBA. After he led the league in blocks back in 2017, the French big went on to win Defensive Player of the Year in 2018 and in 2019. Gobert has actually averaged 2.2 blocks per game since entering the league in 2013. He has also pulled down 10.8 rebounds per game and has connected on 63.4 percent of his total field goal attempts.
Washington Wizards: John Wall
(Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
Honorable Mentions: Bradley Beal, Marcin Gortat
Before his recent injury trouble, Washington Wizards point guard John Wall was an electrifying player. He has averaged 19.0 points and 9.2 assists for the Wizards since going No. 1 overall in the 2010 NBA draft. He made the All-Star team from 2014 until 2018, also grabbing All-Defensive 2nd Team honors in 2015 and All-NBA 3rd Team in 2017. Wall has averaged 1.7 steals per game, too, showing he can be a defensive stopper. Now he is on a tough contract, though he initially earned it with his previously fantastic play.
With the 2010’s coming to a close, Sixers Wire has put together the top 10 Philadelphia 76ers of the decade.
The 2010s weren’t a great decade for the Philadelphia 76ers but the franchise saw some solid talent walk onto the Wells Fargo Center court. Most people will remember this decade of Sixers basketball for the infamous âProcess,â but there were some good moments for Philadelphia to reminisce on too.
As the decade comes to a close, itâs time to take a look back at the top 10 players who donned the Sixers red, white and blue jerseys.
Stats in the 2010s: 16.0 ppg 6.7 apg 6.2 rpg 1.7 spg
Carter-Williams was in Philadelphia for a total of 111 games over the course of 1.5 seasons, and it wasnât all that pretty. He did win Rookie of the Year in 2014 and he had a few exciting games. But Carter-Willims was not the franchise point guard the Sixers wanted him to be. His award in 2014, and the numbers he put up, earn him a spot on this list.
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Philadelphia 76ers guard Trey Burke is looking forward to more playing time with Ben Simmons.
The Philadelphia 76ers were searching for answers on Saturday night in Miami. The Heat once again went with a zone defense and it bothered the Sixers enough to cause coach Brett Brown to make a change as he tossed Trey Burke into the lineup instead of Al Horford late in a heartbreaking 117-116 overtime loss to Miami.
Burke was in a lineup with Ben Simmons and it yielded some positive results. Burke 11 points and had four assists along with being a plus-13 in his 22:09 of playing time and it allowed Simmons to be a roller in some pick-and-roll situations. Simmons caught a few lobs from Josh Richardson as it allowed him to play off the ball a bit.
The Burke-Simmons combination is a duo that could be used more in the future.
“I think we play off each other pretty well,” said Burke. “I think I can play the 2 out there, give J-Rich a break, and still be in the game with Ben and it gives him a break as well playing off the ball. My ability to play make and create for others and myself, I think itâs a plus with him out there so Iâll be looking forward to more of that.”
Having Burke, Simmons, and Richardson out there offers the Sixers a lot of versatility and a lot of different ball handlers. All three of those guys can create for either themselves or for others so that’s a big part of this team’s offensive attack against zone defenses. Burke’s ability to play one-on-one and be aggressive is a nice asset off the bench.
“A lot of aggressiveness off the bench thatâs huge for us,” Richardson said of Burke. “Thatâs what we need him to do. Donât think too much, just play. I think he did that tonight.”
Philadelphia will have some adjustments to make as they prepare for their next opponent on Tuesday in the form of the Indiana Pacers, but more Burke-Simmons lineups could be in this team’s future. [lawrence-related id=22413,22406,22395]
The Philadelphia 76ers hope that this latest loss can build character moving forward.
Sometimes, winning isn’t everything. Sometimes, a team needs a loss to put things in perspective in order to grow and build as a team.
For the Philadelphia 76ers, that’s exactly what they’re banking on after a heartbreaking 117-116 overtime loss to the Miami Heat on Saturday. It was a game that was right there for them to take, but they missed the opportunity and now they’re left hoping to learn and grow from it.
“This group has responded well,” said coach Brett Brown. “They are sunk, everyone is hurt. It stinks to lose. We are going to figure out what we could have done better, stay together, and move on. It is a different type of loss than last night’s loss (Friday to the Orlando Magic). They both are unpleasant, but for a different reason.”
Unlike the loss to the Magic on Friday, the Sixers did play with some energy, albeit an inconsistent effort level, but they just made a few different mistakes that cost them this one. They are easily correctable and fixable with the right focus and determination.
“Every loss has to build character, you can’t just sulk about it,” said Josh Richardson. “We’ve got to take things from yesterday (Friday and take things from today (Saturday) and we’ve got to be like computers. Keep taking in new data and putting it in our game plan.”
Philadelphia faces the Indiana Pacers to continue the road trip on New Year’s Eve and that’s where the focus has to be at with this team.
“We’ve got to get a win in Indiana,” said Ben Simmons. “That’s our next game so we’ve got to put our energy into the next game.” [lawrence-related id=22387,22381,22372]
