The Sixers are testing a new starting lineup of Shake Milton, Josh Richardson, Tobias Harris, Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid during the NBA’s resumed season in Orlando, Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer writes in his latest mailbag.
The adjusted lineup includes playing Simmons at power forward, adding another floor-spacer in Milton to complement the group. Simmons is still expected to be heavily featured on the ball, with veteran Al Horford coming off the bench in the frontcourt.
Philadelphia holds the sixth-best record in the East at 39-26, disappointing onlookers who pegged the club as an elite defensive team with an original starting five of Simmons, Richardson, Harris, Horford and Embiid.
The Sixers now hope to use Simmons in a point forward role with added shooting, though the team must compete with clubs such as Milwaukee (53-12), Toronto (46-18), Boston (43-21) and Miami (41-24) in a crowded Eastern Conference to reach the NBA Finals.
There’s more out of the Atlantic Division today:
- Jamal Crawford has a unique opportunity to impress with the Nets during the NBA’s restart, Brian Lewis of The New York Post writes. Brooklyn signed Crawford to a substitute contract earlier this month, with the team missing the likes of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Spencer Dinwiddie, DeAndre Jordan, Wilson Chandler, Taurean Prince and Nicolas Claxton in Orlando.
- Along with Crawford, forward Lance Thomas is also excited for his new chance with the Nets, Zach Braziller of The New York Post writes. Thomas, 32, signed his contract last week and practiced with the team on Saturday. “It was great to get out of quarantine,” Thomas said. “Sitting in the room for about six-to-seven days, I was itching to get back on the court. I reacclimated with the guys and I was excited for the opportunity.”
- Sixers forward Matisse Thybulle continues to make a strong impression on the team as it gears up for the resumed season, Lauren Rosen of NBA.com writes. “Matisse has been incredibly disruptive defensively,” head coach Brett Brown said. “You just feel like his presence keeps people on their toes. He’s just been so elite.” Thybulle, 23, is averaging 4.7 points, 1.4 steals and 19.5 minutes in his rookie season. He was the No. 20 pick of the 2019 NBA draft after spending four seasons at the University of Washington.
hope crawford makes the best of this opportunity. shame about vince…
It’s hardly much of an opportunity for him or Lance Thomas. Few teams will have much difficulty beating the short-handed Nets.
Nets are all about next yr.
I like what Sixers are doing. They still are a dangerous team. Best be ready for them.
Would you this year pick to 76ers for Harris?
I find it unbelievable that Simmons is still such a poor shooter. 4th year in the league even sat out an entire year. Inexcusable to be that bad from 3 in this day and age.
I hope he’s gotten better w the time off, that Sixer team would be lethal if he was even semi-competent from 3.
Semi-competent like 20% or maybe 25%
I don’t think a couple of months will make a difference if he hasn’t figured it out yet.
It’s got to be some sort of mental thing. The guy has shot 11 threes in his NBA career. He reminds me of John Lester just not trying to throw to first base ever.
Maybe a dingo ate his baby brother while he was out shooting threes?
Teams will be looking for a Thybulle TYPE of player in this years draft. He will be hard to emulate though. Really a game-affector at Washington in a unique way with an insanely wide range from the middle in a 3-2.