Tag: Georges Niang

Sixers shooter Georges Niang ready to make life easier for Joel Embiid

Philadelphia 76ers shooter Georges Niang is ready to make life easier for Joel Embiid out on the floor.

The Philadelphia 76ers are looking to build off being the No. 1 seed in the 2020-21 season as they enter a new season of championship contention. They have a superstar leader in Joel Embiid and they made a couple of additions that should make his life easier.

One was the addition of Andre Drummond who will fill the backup role behind Embiid as the season gets set to begin. The other is adding Georges Niang who brings high basketball IQ and sharpshooting as the backup power forward.

Niang shot 42.5% from deep on 4.1 attempts with the Utah Jazz in the previous season and he was a big help off their bench. As the season gets set to begin, he is ready to make life easier for Embiid out on the floor as he believes he understands his role.

“I think I have a pretty good idea,” Niang joked at practice on Monday. “Make sure my guy doesn’t get in Joel’s way so Joel can go score, yeah, space the floor.”

Embiid attracts a double team immediately on the floor on every possession and that is what makes him and the Sixers so dangerous. Philadelphia can surround him with shooters and just let the offense flow that way. Seth Curry, for example, was able to have a big season playing next to Embiid as hr shot 45% from deep on all of the open looks he received.

“If that’s the case, I’m gonna go home and celebrate right now,” Niang laughed. “Playing with Joel, I’ve said it before, when he walks onto the floor, he attracts a double team so to have him on the court at the same time is a joy for sure.”

There is a lot that Niang can bring to this team. The Sixers are going to benefit from all of the skills he brings to the table and that is something that is going to be a big help to this team off the bench. His shooting is going to be very beneficial to Embiid, especially, when he is on the floor with the big fella.

“Obviously, my job is to space the floor and when my guy takes away my 3-point shot, create for others,” Niang expanded. “Be one of the multiple ball-handlers out there that can facilitate the offense when stuff gets taken away, but mainly to take away space and be a guy with size who can guard multiple positions.”

Philadelphia will have one more practice day on Tuesday before their season opener against the New Orleans Pelicans on the road on Wednesday.

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Veteran Danny Green raves about Sixers addition of Georges Niang

Philadelphia 76ers veteran Danny Green loves the addition of Georges Niang to the team.

The Philadelphia 76ers are bringing a large majority of their roster back from a team that finished as the No. 1 seed in the East in the 2020-21 season, but they did make some tweaks. They made a few offseason additions to bolster the bench and continue to grow the team that they believe will pay off.

One of those additions is Georges Niang who comes to Philadelphia after helping the Utah Jazz earn the No. 1 seed in the West in the previous season. He is a guy who will be looking to bring his all-around game to the Sixers and help them space the floor and take the next step forward as a team.

In the preseason, he showed an ability to bring the ball up the floor as well as stretch the floor on offense with his 3-point shooting as well as being able to play team defense. His work and his effort have caught the eye of veteran guard Danny Green.

“He’s like the Army Swiss knife for us,” Green beamed. “He does a little bit of everything. I like that nickname for him. Some call him The Minivan, some guys call him The Sprinter, some call him the Army Swiss knife.”

Niang did end up shooting 42.5% from deep on 4.1 attempts for the Jazz in 2020-21 and he averaged 15.6 points per 36 minutes. That production is going to be very helpful for Philadelphia’s second unit.

“He’s a great shooter, a high IQ player, can handle the ball a little bit for DHOs, pick-and-roll, slash, he can do a little bit of everything,” Green added. “He does all the things we need him to do, blue-collar guy, he’s the ultimate team player, he’s gonna fit right in, and have that second group moving the ball well.”

Obviously, things could change for Niang with the addition of Ben Simmons returning to the floor, but for Niang and his mindset, he is not worried about that situation. He’s been taught a long time ago that he just needs to worry about himself and focus on being who he is.

“I am here and I have been told a long time ago I stay in my lane because when you start getting out of your lane, that’s when you get hit by a Mac truck,” Niang joked. “I stay in my lane, I show up to work every day, and do what I need to do to help the team win.”

Like the Sixers, Niang and the Jazz were eliminated in Round 2 of the playoffs despite being the No. 1 seeds in their respective conferences. The veteran out of Iowa State wants to bring a hunger to the Sixers after the failure and he wants to help this team win a title right now moving forward.

“I think I’ve said it before, I’ve had a bad taste in my mouth how I got eliminated from the playoffs and I’m sure the Sixers feel the same way,” he finished. “So I want to use that momentum going forward to bring a championship here.”

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Multiple Sixers discuss how Ben Simmons has looked 2 days in practice

The Philadelphia 76ers give their thoughts on how Ben Simmons has looked after two days of practice.

The Philadelphia 76ers are still locked in the saga with 25-year old 3-time All-Star Ben Simmons as the team looks to move forward in this situation. The Sixers have been looking to integrate him back in with the team after all of the off-the-court drama surrounding his trade request.

After clearing the NBA’s COVID protocol, Simmons has now officially rejoined the team. He has now practiced fully with everybody for two days in a row now and he will be looking to get back with the team and continue to move forward.

Some might think the atmosphere around the team would be awkward with his return to the floor. The Sixers are a team that needs the chemistry in order to move forward, but Simmons’ presence has not changed much in terms of the vibe around the group.

“He’s showed up. He’s practiced,” said new addition Georges Niang. “We welcomed him in and that’s really how it’s been. I don’t think anything has really changed. Obviously, he’s a part of this team and we’re happy that he’s here now. I don’t think anybody’s really changed. The vibes are still really high and we’re still really excited to push forward and compete for a championship this season.”

While Simmons has missed a couple of weeks due to his trade request, it’s not like he is a new addition. He has been in Philadelphia for the entirety of his career so he understands who he is playing with and how coach Doc Rivers wants to run things.

“It’s been good,” said veteran Danny Green. “Things have gone the same as normal. It’s the usual…It’s different to see a new face. We get a new teammate. We got a new face and a guy we haven’t seen in a while so that’s the only difference.”

In terms of him getting ready to play on opening night against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday, Rivers is still not ready to commit to that yet.

“I have no idea,” he explained. “Honestly, I haven’t thought about it much. When it comes, I’ll make the decision, but I’m just gonna wait and see and watch. The spirit has been so good and so we’re just going to keep going.”

On the flip side, Rivers acknowledged that Simmons progressed well in practice on Tuesday.

“Yeah, he played more for sure today,” he added. “We’re just going to take our time and keep building.”

At the end of the day, everybody knows how talented Simmons is and the team understands that they are a better team with him out on the floor with them in order to succeed.

“He’s been great,” said Tyrese Maxey. “It’s Ben Simmons. We know what he does. He’s really good at what he does and it’s great to have him back.”

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Tyrese Maxey, Georges Niang react to Ben Simmons’ return to Sixers

Tyrese Maxey and Georges Niang react to Ben Simmons returning to the Philadelphia 76ers.

The Philadelphia 76ers have been preparing for the 2021-22 season just as they normally would in any regular year as they get ready to chase the Larry O’Brien trophy once again. They have a superstar big man in Joel Embiid and they are looking to take advantage of his talent.

There has been one wrench thrown into this plan and that has been the absence of All-Star Ben Simmons. The 25-year old has not been with the team as he continues to try and force a trade out of Philadelphia, but that holdout ended on Monday as he returned to the team.

Simmons took his physical and he has not yet shown up to practice, but he can return to the team by Friday and that is something that excites the Sixers such as Tyrese Maxey.

“That’s great,” Maxey beamed. “Of course, we’re a better team with Ben. I’m glad to have him back. We’re going to keep talking to him and keep trying to keep him a part of this team.”

Simmons will most likely still want to be traded. It seems as if he is just here due to the fact that he was losing a lot of money and he did not want to lose anymore, but the fact remains that he is here with the team and it is something that Philadelphia can add to their offense whenever he does show up.

“He’s a part of the team,” said new addition Georges Niang. “I haven’t seen him. I show up to practice every day and participate with the guys that are here and I’ll be ready to continue to play the way I play when he is playing alongside us.”

The Sixers do have a preseason game on Friday against the Detroit Pistons that will wrap up the exhibition schedule, but there is no guarantee that Simmons will be with the team at that time.

“No, not yet,” said coach Doc Rivers. “We’ll find that out. You’ll know.”

Simmons has been going through individual workouts as he continues to comply with the NBA’s COVID protocols before he can be cleared on Friday. The Sixers are not looking for much, they just want him to get some work in.

“I’m not really looking for anything,” Rivers added. “Just him coming in and working and that’s it. It’s too early. It’s only been one day.”

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3 observations: Sixers have a tough night in preseason loss to Raptors

The Philadelphia 76ers had themselves a rough night in the preseason opener against the Toronto Raptors.

The Philadelphia 76ers began their preseason schedule for the 2021-22 season on Monday when they took on the Toronto Raptors up in Canada and it was a bit of a new era for them. While they still have a lot of their mainstays, they are moving on without the services of Ben Simmons who is essentially out of the picture.

It was clear that they missed Simmons a bit on Monday as they looked out of sorts in a 123-107 loss to the Raptors to open up the preseason. Of course, it did not help that they were also missing Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris, but they looked a bit unorganized to open up the exhibition slate.

Andre Drummond led Philadelphia with 19 points, 14 rebounds, and four blocks as he played with a ton of energy all night, Seth Curry had 14 points and four steals, Tyrese Maxey had 10 points, and Furkan Korkmaz added 13. Isaiah Joe also added 18 points and some nice plays on the defensive end as well while Paul Reed added four points and 11 rebounds with three blocks on the night.

Here are the observations from the preseason opener:

Georges Niang ready to show more skills for Sixers that he didn’t with Jazz

Philadelphia 76ers forward Georges Niang is ready to show he can do more than just shoot like he did with the Utah Jazz.

The Philadelphia 76ers brought in Georges Niang in order to provide more depth behind Tobias Harris off the bench. The Sixers were in serious need of a guy who can provide some shooting at the big man spot as well as be able to provide versatility.

Niang fashioned a solid 2020-21 season with the Utah Jazz where he averaged 6.9 points and 2.4 rebounds while shooting 42.5% from deep. He played in all 72 games, starting 10 of them, and he averaged 16.0 minutes per game.

With the Jazz, his role was just to take the catch and shoot triples that were created by his teammates. He did a solid job in that role, but now he wants to do more with the Sixers. Coach Doc Rivers is giving him a bit more freedom to show off other parts of his game.

“In Utah, there’s a ton of playmakers,” said Niang on Thursday. “Mike Conley, Joe Ingles so that wasn’t really my role. It was more or less catch and shoot when I had the opportunity to. Here, Doc’s given me the freedom to kind of get the ball off the rebound and push and play make and kick to guys like Furk (Korkmaz) or Shake (Milton) or throw lobs to Andre (Drummond) at the rim so that’s something that I’m really excited to continue to expand here and Doc’s such a good coach that he gives his guys freedom to do things like that and I feel like that’s a skill set that I’ll be able to tap into while I’m here.”

Considering that Ben Simmons is essentially gone at this point, the Sixers will need other players to handle the ball and initiate offense. Niang is a guy who wants to help in that regard and that is why Rivers pursued him so hard in free agency.

“Anybody that’s been through it knows free agency is kind of crazy so to have a head coach call you and express interest and tell you how he’s going to use you and the things that he likes about your game and how they fit into his plan, going forward like I said before that was the swinger in me wanting to be here,” Niang explained. “Just simply because that’s the guy that’s taken me in.”

Rivers is known as a player’s coach and a guy who can relate well to them due to his own playing career. That is why he was able to make Niang feel like Philadelphia is the right place for him and he can help the team right away.

“He had a vision for me and it aligns with how I thought I fit in,” the veteran stated. “He wants to win right away and so do I and I want to be in a good culture and that’s what he’s building here and, obviously, when I got off the phone I was really excited because I felt like before I even had made the decision I had a home here in Philly.”

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Joel Embiid, Sixers remain impressed with Georges Niang, bench unit

Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers are impressed with Georges Niang and the bench unit to begin training camp.

The Philadelphia 76ers wrapped up Day 3 of training camp on Wednesday as they continue with their preparation for the 2021-22 season. At this point, the Sixers need to grow team chemistry and get everybody on the same page to chase down a championship.

The additions they made in the offseason were focused on improving the depth for the second unit. The Sixers brought in big men Georges Niang and Andre Drummond in order to provide the proper depth behind Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris and they have been turning heads through the first three days of camp.

“They’re gonna be great,” said Embiid. “Georges is a great shooter and he knows how to play the game of basketball and I think he’s a really good playmaker and defensively, he tries.”

Then, there is Drummond who despite his “beef” with Embiid in the past, he is showing off his value to this team to begin camp.

“As far as Andre, we know what he is,” Embiid continued. “A great rebounder, he’s got great hands, he can pass the ball, and we’re challenging him to get to the free-throw line and make more, especially over the years he’s gotten better, but as we know a couple years ago, he was a bad one. Through hard work, he’s gotten better so that’s great.”

The second unit has had an impressive beginning to camp and Thursday was no different. The Sixers are happy with what that group has brought to the table.

“We scrimmaged a lot,” coach Doc Rivers told reporters. “The blue was phenomenal as the second group today. They dominated practice and white struggled today which happens early in training camp. Shake (Milton) and Furk (Korkmaz), Matisse (Thybulle), Drummond, and Georges, that group is having a hell of a camp right.”

The bench unit had issues of keeping leads in the past, but they are hoping that the additions they made with this group can keep things going when the starters get off to a good start. On the flip side, they are hoping to give the starters a boost when the time comes.

If training camp is any indication, they are going to put together some solid production on the floor in the upcoming season.

“It’s funny because we’re the group that has been trying to get to know each other with Andre and Georges,” laughed Thybulle. “Just trying to get a feel for me, Shake, and Furk, but it’s been fun. The ball’s been flying around. The energy that we’ve been playing with on both ends of the court has been unreal. So it’s been a blast. It’s a great sign to see that we’re starting off doing this well.”

Training camp is used to build good habits and chemistry and they have done a good job of including guys like Niang thus far. He feels like he is a part of the team right now and that they are building a solid foundation.

“It’s been great,” he expressed. “I think the guys have done a great job of really welcoming me and making me get acclimated quicker than I actually thought so that’s been great. Doc’s been good about getting us all together and building team camaraderie, especially for me, Dre, and the new guys that are here so I think the first three days have been really awesome. I think we’re building a great foundation to have a great year.”

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Sixers impressed with Andre Drummond, second unit in training camp

The Philadelphia 76ers are happy with Andre Drummond and the second unit so far in training camp.

The Philadelphia 76ers made some additions to their second unit in order to replace Dwight Howard as well as give Tobias Harris some real rest when he needs it. The Sixers needed some big men depth and they went out and brought in some solid options.

They brought in Andre Drummond on a veteran’s minimum deal and they also brought in Georges Niang on a 2-year team-friendly deal. Drummond is expected to replace Howard and backup Joel Embiid while Niang is looking to provide some shooting off the bench and make sure Harris gets some rest.

On day 2 of training camp on Wednesday, both Drummond and Niang received some praise.

“I think that they’re good additions,” said Furkan Korkmaz. “Georges and Andre, they’re really good guys. Especially off the court, we are talking a lot too. They are here to win. I can definitely say that, especially in the scrimmage like that. If they see something wrong, they are speaking and I can tell like they’re here.”

Drummond is showing off a bit of a passing ability that guard Shake Milton did not expect. Normally, the passing with the second unit comes from Milton himself, but now, they have an option in Drummond they can turn to.

“It’s been great,” said Milton. “G’s a smart player and he can shoot the ball really, really well so it makes it easy to play with him and Drummond, just his skill sizes is unreal. He has so much skill for that position. I didn’t know how good of a passer he was either so that’s definitely been fun.”

Coach Doc Rivers has known Drummond for a long time and he is happy now that he has him on his roster.

“I’ve known Andre since high school,” said Rivers. “The kid that I adopted, Adam, and Andre were roommates at military academy. So I’ve really known him and his mom, since high school. We’ve had this running joke for as long he’s in the league every year, ‘When are you going to come to get me?’ and so, when I called, I said ‘I’m calling to come to get you. Now you got to make the decision.’”

This is an opportunity for Drummond to play for his next contract. Considering that he is only 28-years old, the former 2-time All-Star now has a chance to earn a bigger role elsewhere and earn more money.

“Andre two or three years ago, was making max [money] and my first question is, ‘Why are you at where you’re at?.'” Rivers stated. “Let’s do something about that. So I’m telling you, he’s in great shape, he’s doing great things right now. He’s just got to keep doing it.”

The Sixers will continue training camp on Thursday to prepare for the 2021-22 season.

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Sixers relying on multiple players to handle the ball without Ben Simmons

The Philadelphia 76ers will be relying on multiple different players to handle the ball with Ben Simmons out.

The Philadelphia 76ers are entering a bit of a new era in the 2021-22 season as they look to move on from Ben Simmons. The embattled star is currently holding out as continues to wait for a trade from the organization and move on to the next chapter in his career.

As the team began training camp on Tuesday, the Sixers are now tasked with looking for another ball-handler. They have quite a few options they can turn to and they certainly used a lot of them at practice on Tuesday.

Coach Doc Rivers was able to turn to guys such as Shake Milton, Furkan Korkmaz, and even Georges Niang with his second unit. There are a lot of options that can happen with those groups out on the floor.

“Shake more, Shake and Furk, and Georges at the 4, bringing the ball up was very effective for the second group,” Rivers told reporters on Tuesday. “That way, we don’t want that unit to feel like they have one guy as a pure point guard and it’s really the same with the first unit.”

In the first unit, he had Tyrese Maxey running with them. Along with Maxey, Rivers wants Tobias Harris and Seth Curry to also push the ball in a way that Simmons used to do.

“Tyrese will bring it up a lot, but if Tobias gets it, I want him to break out with it,” Rivers continued. “If Seth gets it, I don’t want him to wait. Last year, Ben would more get it every time, because of his ability to get to the paint and make plays. This year, we’ll probably do something different.”

Harris will be looked at as more of a leader with this unit as the season gets set to get underway. He averaged a career-high 3.5 assists in the 2020-21 season and that will continue to be a point of emphasis for him heading into this upcoming season. Especially with Simmons not with the team at the moment.

“That will be a key thing for me,” said Harris. “Whenever the ball flows around, it’s key for us and something we were progressing on today and we will continue to progress on just the ball movement and getting the ball side to side, making the game easier for everybody. I think you’re gonna see a continued effort from all the guys making that extra pass, the right play, and living with the results as well.”

“We used him a lot last year, quick decisions, that’s huge for him,” Rivers added. “When he does that, that makes us pretty good. Just passing in general to the open man is usually a good thing and Tobias did a hell of a job of that last year.”

For Philadelphia to have any type of offensive success after losing their point guard, they will need guys like Harris, Curry, and others to really step up and provide production in his place.

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Doc Rivers is excited about what Georges Niang can bring to Sixers

Philadelphia 76ers coach Doc Rivers is excited about what Georges Niang can bring to the team.

The Philadelphia 76ers had a tumultuous offseason that has cast a pall over the organization. There will be a watchful eye on the organization until it resolves the Ben Simmons situation, but some offseason moves were solid.

One was bringing in Georges Niang on a two-year, team-friendly deal. The Sixers needed some big man depth behind Tobias Harris and Niang provides it. He gives coach Doc Rivers somebody he can rely on after not having many options in the 2021 playoffs.

“I thought that hurt us in the playoffs because the other team knew that, too, and they started going big,” said Rivers. “They knew at some point, gotta take Tobias out and that put us in a bind a little bit, but that’s going to happen. Every team has some kind of weakness. They really do. So, that was ours. I thought we addressed that.”

Niang also shot 42.5% from deep on 4.1 attempts in the playoffs, so this big addition gives the Sixers versatility even in small-ball lineups.

“Niang is, to me, the silent pickup that I personally think will really be big for us in a lot of ways,” Rivers added. “Especially if we try to play small-ball, because of his ability to stretch the floor.”

That type of endorsement from the head coach can do wonders for a player, especially somebody like Niang who is the new guy on the block on a team trying to win a championship.

“That gives me a ton of confidence,” beamed Niang. “The main reason I’m here is; I was able to have a conversation with Doc Rivers during free agency, and he expressed what he thought about me and how he thought I could help this team and those are some of my strengths. I think Philly’s a great fit for me. Just to be on the floor with someone like Joel Embiid or Tobias Harris where those guys draw so much attention which allows me to tee up open 3s and I think that helps space the floor for this team.”

Niang essentially replaces Mike Scott, who did not return in free agency. Scott was a fan favorite due to his personality and his hard-nosed style of play, but Niang is an upgrade who can help the team in more ways.

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