Tag: Trey Burke

MSU star heaps praise on former Wolverine

Despite the rivalry, the MSU point guard had some compliments to pay to the former Wolverines standout.

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This isn’t something you see every day.

It’s no secret that Michigan State and Michigan don’t like each other. The rivalry has only intensified over time, so much so that FS1 recently aired a documentary over the two in-state rivals.

So it’s a little surprising that one of MSU’s biggest stars had something positive to say about one of Michigan’s.

The official Michigan basketball Twitter account posted on Friday that fans can rewatch the 2013 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 game when the Wolverines came from behind — courtesy of Trey Burke’s epic three-pointer to tie the game at the end of regulation — and it got retweeted by Spartans point guard Cassius Winston, with a surprise disclaimer.

It probably goes without saying that the green and white faithful won’t exactly be a fan of this.

Sixers to waive Trey Burke in order to clear final roster spot needed

The Philadelphia 76ers will waive guard Trey Burke in order to clear the final roster spot needed.

The Philadelphia 76ers needed to make some moves in order to allow some space on the roster to fit in new trade acquisitions Alec Burks and Glenn Robinson III who were acquired from the Golden State Warriors.

They made one move by sending James Ennis III to the Orlando Magic for a second-round pick, but that only cleared one spot so they still had more work to do. So, the Sixers decided to waive guard Trey Burke.

The Sixers had been favoring Raul Neto for some time as the backup point guard and Burke had fallen out of favor in the rotation, so this move makes the most sense.

Burke was signed to a non-guaranteed deal in the offseason and he has only played in 25 games averaging 5.9 points and he shot 42.1% from deep with the Sixers. There was a stretch where Burke was playing on a regular basis, but he then had a few rough games and coach Brett Brown turned to Neto in his spot.

With the trade deadline officially over, it appears the roster is now set. However, keep in mind that they could also convert Norvel Pelle to an NBA deal at any moment. [lawrence-related id=25039,25069,25031]

Brett Brown explains why Raul Neto has played over Trey Burke

Philadelphia 76ers coach Brett Brown explains why Raul Neto has played over Trey Burke.

The Philadelphia 76ers have always had a decision to make with their backup point guards behind Ben Simmons. They have two capable options in Raul Neto and Trey Burke and coach Brett Brown has to decide on a nightly basis who to roll with.

He explained recently his decision on the backup point guard rotation and why he makes the decisions he does. After rolling with Burke for a little while, he switched up and went back to Neto and Burke has not played much recently.

“It’s really the same conversation,” said Brown Monday morning. “We go Raul, Trey, what does Raul have to do? We all remember four days ago, Raul had 19 points in the first half. You’re not going to play those two guys together. It’s one or the other and it’s true that Trey has value. It’s always that type of decision.”

However, since the 19 points against the Golden State Warriors, Neto has scored one point on 0-for-14 shooting in three games. So it would make sense that Brown would eventually shift back to Burke who has not played any real minutes since January 9. He did not play until the fourth quarter in Monday’s loss to the Miami Heat and by then, the game was already decided.

Eventually, something has to give. Neto is the prototypical Brown point guard who focuses on passing first before looking for his own offense. However, his ineffectiveness on both ends of the floor really begs the question of why Burke has not received a call to play. He can give the team a spark on offense and he brings a different aspect to the floor.

The Sixers will look to get a win on Thursday against the Milwaukee Bucks to avoid a winless road trip. [lawrence-related id=24935,24922,24912]

Brett Brown gives insight on Raul Neto-Trey Burke backup rotation

Philadelphia 76ers coach Brett Brown gives insight on the Raul Neto and Trey Burke backup rotation.

The Philadelphia 76ers have two very capable backup point guard in Raul Neto and Trey Burke, but it seems that they can’t decide on who to play every night. The Sixers started the season with Neto as the primary backup option before he gave way to Burke and then they have flip-flopped ever since.

Recently, Burke was getting the majority of the minutes as coach Brett Brown wanted to see what he had in him and he wanted to experiment with Burke and Ben Simmons lineups. However, Burke has not played in their previous two games as he gave way to Neto backing up Simmons.

In a situation like this in the past, Brown would use the word “tournament” and let players win their spot in the rotation. However, he says this is a bit different.

“I almost feel like the ‘tournament’ word isn’t true anymore,” said Brown. “There is a mindset that I have to not let somebody rot on a bench. I’m mindful of that. It’s never to the detriment of a team that they’re both very good players and they’re both very different.”

Neto is the prototypical Brown point guard as he is more conservative and he’s a pass-first guard. Burke is more of the flashy scorer and he looks for his offense before creating for others. Therefore, Brown has to use the different factors when deciding who will be the backup on a nightly basis.

“So when do I make that decision?” Brown continued. “It’s certainly based on the opponent, some of it factors into the human side, the coaching responsibility I have to keep their spirit, their game, the team afloat. So decisions are based on some of those things of who plays and who doesn’t.”

The backup point guard position has been something to behold all season as the Sixers try and nail down the rotation before the playoffs. Another thing to consider is that not only will Neto and Burke be involved, but Josh Richardson will be as well. It will be something to watch as the season continues to unfold. [lawrence-related id=23743,23733,23720]

Sixers vs. Celtics preview: Sixers look to remain unbeaten against rivals

The Philadelphia 76ers host the Boston Celtics at home on Thursday night.

The Philadelphia 76ers got back on track on Monday when they knocked off the Oklahoma City Thunder at home to snap a frustrating four-game losing skid. It was a much needed and important win for them, but it came at a hefty price as superstar big man Joel Embiid suffered a dislocated finger in the contest which will cause him to miss Thursday’s contest.

Their opponent is the rival Boston Celtics who the Sixers have taken the first two meetings from to begin their season series. They will be playing on the second night of a back-to-back after a loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night so the Sixers will have a rest advantage in this one.

With that said, it’s time for the guide to this big rival showdown:

How to watch Sixers vs. Celtics

  • Date: Thursday, January 9
  • Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
  • Location: Wells Fargo Center Philadelphia, PA
  • TV: TNT, NBC Sports Philadelphia

Injury Report

  • Sixers: OUT: Joel Embiid(left ring finger) PROBABLE: Matisse Thybulle(right knee sprain)
  • Celtics: NOT YET SUBMITTED

Storylines

Sixers prepared for Embiid absence

Not that the Sixers want to have Embiid not play, he is their best player after all, but they are prepared to go to battle without him even if the injury holds him out long term. Coach Brett Brown has thought about it and he is ready and playing it safe just in case.

“To think that I’m not thinking longer, whenever the news comes out, would be disingenuous,” said coach Brett Brown. “You have to think ‘Now what does this mean?’ and because we have sort of rare air in that we actually have practice, you want to take advantage of some things. If you tilted the priorities of weight, it certainly was driven toward trying to beat Boston, but I would be lying if you didn’t do some things in the event that you receive news.”

Sixers want Burke in an Iverson role

Trey Burke has modeled his game after Sixers great and basketball Hall of Famer Allen Iverson and now, the Sixers want to use him in that type of role. Iverson was a small 2 guard next to Eric Snow in his heyday and Burke is a small guard the Sixers plan to use at the 2 next to Ben Simmons along with Josh Richardson. The plan is to allow Burke to be able to create for himself and focus on just scoring.

“So with Trey when he’s playing with Ben, I want him thinking like AI, score,” Brown added. “I bring him off pick-and-rolls, we run kick aheads, we’re playing downhill, and he’s like lightning in a bottle. So the AI example that I use with Trey is mostly out of that environment where he’s at a 2 and he’s just looking to come in and create and score.”

Prediction

This will not be an easy game without Embiid. The Sixers will slide Al Horford back over to the center position and have him run things from there and Philadelphia is expected to have Matisse Thybulle return from injury, but the Celtics are no pushover. They are coming off a tough loss and will be wanting to bounce back and will have motivation. The Sixers could use a big game from Simmons in this one.

Pick: Sixers at home, they’re just a different team in South Philadelphia

Sixers vs. Celtics season series

Game 1 October 23: 107-93 Sixers

Game 2 December 12: 115-109 Sixers

Game 3 January 9:

Game 4 February 1:

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Brett Brown wants to use Trey Burke in an Allen Iverson type of role

Philadelphia 76ers coach Brett Brown wants to use Trey Burke in an Allen Iverson type of role.

The Philadelphia 76ers have made a few changes to their rotation and the way they run things offensively. Coach Brett Brown has made the change to use Trey Burke as both the backup point guard and also use him as a running mate next to Ben Simmons where he can be just a scorer.

That latter part has Brown thinking of another diminutive dynamic scorer in Sixers history: Allen Iverson.

Iverson, who has a nice relationship with Burke, is obviously one of the greatest players in Sixers history and Burke will never be confused for the Hall of Famer, but they can play similar roles. Iverson was a small 2 guard next to Eric Snow during his days while he was putting up big numbers for Philadelphia and Burke can be a small 2 guard next to Simmons and use his creativity to score for himself and give the team a spark.

“Well most times you’re taking a 5-foot-10 guard and he’s a point guard,” Brown explained. “He’s not on the ball when he’s playing with Ben so when I say it, I say it more in that spirit where you have Eric Snow as the point guard and AI is just screening around scoring.”

Burke can do the same thing on this Sixers team and it can help them move forward offensively. In this example, he hands the ball off to James Ennis III, then runs to the corner and gets a return pass and drills a 3-pointer. It can be that type of play from Burke, like Iverson, who can run around and just focus on scoring.

“So with Trey when he’s playing with Ben, I want him thinking like AI, score,” Brown added. “I bring him off pick-and-rolls, we run kick aheads, we’re playing downhill, and he’s like lightning in a bottle. So the AI example that I use with Trey is mostly out of that environment where he’s at a 2 and he’s just looking to come in and create and score.”

The Sixers clearly believe in Burke as they guaranteed his contract for the rest of the 2019-20 season and they have found a role for him. This type of role is perfect for him as a guy who has a reputation for being an explosive scorer. [lawrence-related id=23036,23013,22990]

Trey Burke speaks on growing comfort level with Sixers with more time

Philadelphia 76ers guard Trey Burke explains how his comfort level is growing with the team.

The Philadelphia 76ers needed to find a spark offensively. So, coach Brett Brown made a change and inserted Trey Burke into the rotation hoping to find some extra life. The plan succeeded as he was able to give the Sixers a bit of a different look with his ability to create for others and for himself.

His strong play recently has earned him a fully guaranteed contract for the rest of the season after entering the season with only a partially guaranteed deal. He’s averaged 7.8 points on shooting 58.3% from deep over his past eight games while averaging 14.2 minutes per game.

He’s displayed a lot of comfortability sliding into the rotation next to Ben Simmons and it appears that he has finally found a role in Philadelphia after not playing all that much.

“Just learning my role,” he explained at practice on Tuesday. “Sometimes playing the 1, sometimes playing the 2, learning where the 2 is supposed to be at with all of the play calls we have. Getting guys in their spots as the point guard, me not playing just one position, I have to be alert and aware on the court.”

Due to the versatility up and down the roster, Brown has begun experimenting with a lot of his players and with Burke especially. His ability to play either backcourt position has given the team a lot of flexibility and it has kept Burke on his toes.

“He’s throwing me out there in different roles,” Burke added. “Sometimes I’m the point guard where I’ve got to set the table more than other times when I’m the 2 where I can be more aggressive. I think when I talk about being more comfortable, I mean it in that sense.”

On top of those challenges Burke has faced with the Sixers, another challenge has been playing time. He did not make his debut with Philadelphia until the eighth game of the season and he was used sparingly after that. Brown would normally roll with Raul Neto or Josh Richardson as the backup point guard, but now it seems as if Burke has a role on this team.

“That’s another thing, the uncertainty of how much I was going to play,” he added. “As of late, coach has been making it clear that he’s going to roll with me. My job is to come in here and be Trey Burke. Be aggressive, take risks, try to get in the paint, break defenses down, and just take what the defense has been giving me. That’s what I try to do.”

Philadelphia will move on to play the Boston Celtics on Thursday after a win on Monday over the Oklahoma City Thunder. [lawrence-related id=22902,22892,22883]

Sixers praise Trey Burke, guarantee contract for rest of the season

The Philadelphia 76ers praise the work of Trey Burke who had his contract guaranteed for the rest of the season.

The Philadelphia 76ers continue to make some changes to their offense and their rotation as the season progresses. One of those changes has been inserting Trey Burke into the rotation and using him as both a backup point guard and using him in lineups next to Ben Simmons.

There has been success with having Burke in the lineup as he has been able to space the floor with his shooting and be able to use him as another ball-handler and be able to use him as a pick-and-roll initiator. He started playing with Simmons more during the road trip, specifically against the Miami Heat, and that has continued forward. He had 12 points in the win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday.

“He has exceeded, by a mile, my expectations of what we can expect from him,” said coach Brett Brown. “There is still some defensive things we’re trying to figure out and help him succeed defensively, but in relation to the pop and creating your own shot and a burst of speed and being dynamic off a live ball, he’s different than damn near all of them. He has given us a spark and a pop.”

When the Sixers signed Burke in the offseason, it was a nonguaranteed deal which meant that he had to battle for any playing time he got. His past eight games, he’s averaged 7.8 points and he’s shot 58.3% from deep which is huge given this team’s 3-point shooting struggles. That type of play had the Sixers making the decision to guarantee his deal for the rest of the season.

“I knew last night (Monday), but Elton pretty much confirmed it today (Tuesday,” said Burke. “I’m very grateful, I’ve always wanted to be a part of a winning situation. What better city than Philly? A team that I watched growing up with (Allen) Iverson. To get guaranteed today is a very special thing for me. I’m looking forward to continuing to play at a high level and continue to help this team win.”

Burke did not play much at the beginning of the season as Brown rolled with Raul Neto, the other point guard the Sixers signed in the offseason, and also using Josh Richardson as a backup point guard. That limited Burke’s opportunities on the floor, but when given the chance, he’s been running with it and it earned him this opportunity.

“You make a decision, do you go with Raul? Do you go with Trey? Most times we went with Raul and all of a sudden, I started playing J-Rich as a backup 1 and we just went with Raul and then Trey came in,” Brown explained. “I don’t think it was anything that we missed, I think opportunities create expectation and reward. He’s been rewarded with minutes and he has rewarded us with performance.”

When Burke had his number called in Miami on December 28, he made the most of it. He played a large majority of the fourth quarter and in overtime and his play gave the team a big spark on the offensive end. His endurance to go that long impressed Brown.

“I feel like the thing that he should deserve the most credit for should be driven towards his conditioning,” the coach added. “Look what he did in Miami. He played the whole fourth period and all of overtime? Or was out for a minute? That’s not playing much basketball and still have the conditioning to be able to come in and play 14 tough minutes without just wilting, he’s a good story. I respect his preparation.”

As the Sixers continue to work this thing out, they will undoubtedly continue to use Burke in the rotation and reap the benefits of having him out there. [lawrence-related id=22902,22892,22883]

Trey Burke ‘looking forward’ to lining up more with Ben Simmons

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 it’s a plus with him out there so I’ll 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 that’s huge for us,” Richardson said of Burke. “That’s what we need him to do. Don’t 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]

Multiple Sixers react to loss to Heat, suggest inconsistency in effort

Multiple players on the Philadelphia 76ers suggest that the team does not play hard enough consistently in order to win.

Once again, the Philadelphia 76ers let a game slip away on Saturday night as they fell to the Miami Heat in overtime 117-116. They made a lot of mistakes late and it cost them another winnable game.

The Sixers had stretches where they played well and then there were other stretches that allowed the Heat to really play their style and get what they wanted offensively. That inconsistency killed them down the stretch as they let another one slip away.

“We were right there,” said Ben Simmons. “It starts in the first quarter. We’ve got to carry the same energy all the way through. We can’t wait for the last minute to pick it up.”

Philadelphia led by five after the first quarter and then maintained that five-point lead heading into halftime, but then they were outscored by 11 in the third quarter, then had a chance to win the game late, and then made some mistakes down the stretch that blew it.

“There were some plays throughout the game that I wish we had back,” said Josh Richardson. “It was a tough game versus a good team and they just came out on top.”

However, this is a team that has a lot of high expectations. This is a team that should be playing with a high level of intensity each and every time out there. Like on Christmas Day when they beat a very good Milwaukee Bucks team only to follow that up with a lackluster loss to the Orlando Magic and then Saturday’s loss to the Heat.

“If we want to be a championship team, we can’t be picky and choosy when we want to play with that kind of intensity,” Trey Burke added. “I’m sure these last few losses sting, but we’ll watch film and grow from it.”

The Sixers next chance to grow as a team will be on New Year’s Eve when they face the Indiana Pacers on the road. [lawrence-related id=22387,22381,22372]