Magic rookie Jalen Suggs is pushing the pace for his team this season, Khobi Price of the Orlando Sentinel writes. Orlando lost to Phoenix 132-105 on Saturday, but Suggs still finished with a 20-point, 10-assist effort.
“I liked the pace of the game,” head coach Jamahl Mosley said of Suggs. “His ability to push the ball up the floor. He got a lot of guys easy shots being able to get out in transition [and] attacking before the defense was set. I really like his aggressiveness.”
Suggs also grabbed six rebounds in the contest, immediately pushing to run the break. His work came in just 26 minutes of action. The 20-year-old is holding per-game averages of 12.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists on the season, shooting 37% from the floor.
Here are some other notes from the Southeast Division:
- The Heat were content with standing pat at the trade deadline, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald writes. The team did clear a roster spot by trading KZ Okpala to Oklahoma City, but Victor Oladipo‘s looming return should serve as a valuable upgrade. “I thought everyone was pretty safe this year on our team,” Tyler Herro said. “In past years, we’ve made pretty significant moves and people didn’t really know what move we were going to make. But I felt like this trade deadline was a little bit more clear. We’re first in the East. We feel like we made all our moves in the offseason and I think this roster is good enough to compete with anybody. I think that’s why we didn’t make any moves.”
- The upcoming All-Star break is coming at a good time for the Hornets, Rod Boone of the Charlotte Observer writes, noting how the team could use a reset. Charlotte is 3-7 in its last 10 games. “I feel like we just got to put it together,” Terry Rozier said. “Whatever that means, however people take it. But the season is about ups and downs and at home we’re just not getting wins right now.”
- Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer examines why he believes the James Harden–Joel Embiid pairing will flourish for the Sixers at first. Pompey also explores whether it could advance past the initial stage, as both Harden and Embiid don’t hold championship experience. Philadelphia acquired Harden and veteran Paul Millsap last week, sending Ben Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and two first-round picks to Brooklyn.
Embiid and Harden can past the first round playoffs but rarely past the 2nd round playoffs
Now they combine. They need to be healthy
76ers need a top tier bench this summer
Team salary $154 million for 13 players next season
Trade is the best option
Staying healthy goes got any team
The Sixers have a legit chance to get to the big dance and win it, now
Go Sixers
Legit, perhaps. Likely chance? They won’t exactly be the favorites by knowledgeable basketball fans because of the Bucks and Heat residing in the East. The Bucks and Heat at full health are better than the 76ers at full health. I wouldn’t go to sleep on Brooklyn just yet either. Cleveland and Chicago can be problems for the 76ers.
Depending on the matchup, they should get to the second round. If they run into the Bucks or Heat in that second round, they’re very likely done then. Same thing can happen if they run into a functioning version of the Nets.
Chicago has proven twice now they aren’t on the Sixers level, and that was pre-Harden. A fully healthy Cavs team just lost to an even more depleted version of the Sixers last night. Embiid would destroy Bam in the playoffs, and the new-look Nets are
(screw my fat fingers and this site’s inability to edit comments)
Nets chemistry remains to be seen. Bucks are the only team that could slow down the potent Sixers offense.
Good luck with that…your fingers and your prediction.
Heat are a better team than the 76ers period. Bam isn’t the only piece they have.
You got a little homer in your eye.
I don’t think the corpse of Kyle Lowry is intimidating anyone. And Jimmy Butler isn’t exactly a great playoff performer. Your Heat aren’t going anywhere.
Question.. do you even know who Max Strus, Caleb Martin, Omer Yurtseven, or Gabe Vincent are? I’m gonna bet its a no…. go do some research, they will be why the Heat win the east.. not Bam, Butler, Lowry, or others.. it will be the fact that their bench can outscore their starting 5 on most nights, and that’s something no other team in the NBA can say. The rest of your “points” made me laugh.. you’re a huge homer and scream “I have no idea what I’m saying”
Jeremyn, you are a clown. You’re on a site where dudes like us sit around and talk about the potential of NBA teams for fun. We know who plays for the Heat so pull up your zipper and act like you’ve had a discussion before. If you are honestly suggesting that the Heat’s saving grace come play off time is Caleb Martin dropping 40 then you need to seriously rethink how you see the game of basketball. And btw I’d bet my first child’s right arm that the Warriors bench could easily, and look at these words closely, EASILY dismantle the Heat’s backups. The bubble has really made these Heat fans intolerable
@washington_bonercrats
I don’t see the Warriors in the Eastern Conference. Why are they relevant to this conversation? Are they going to play for the 76ers…which is the team that we’re discussing?
I’m not going to respond to that trolling crap more than to say.. you proved my point.
@jawn
@jeremyn is onto something about you seeming to not know much about the Heat roster. I imagine you’re one of these new 76ers fans that were acquired along with Harden. We’ll try to guess which one is you among the many many many 76ers fans we’ll see at games with their crisp, brand new Harden 76ers jerseys that you can now add to your Tom Brady Bucs jersey as you wait to order your Carlos Correa jersey once he signs with his new team to replace your Big Papi Red Sox jersey or Giancarlo Stanton jersey…that you’ll save next to your Lindor Mets jersey.
Cavs phoned it in last night
OKC played through the whistle the night before, the Cavs caved in the 4th quarter versus the Sixers in the fourth
The 6ers gave up almost all depth they had to get Harden… they are now extremely top heavy.. IE if Harden or Embiid (two insanely injury prone players) get even mildly hurt.. the team loses that series.
@Marlins
If Maxey continues to develop
Embiid stays healthy
Harden is Harden
The Sixers have enough ‘Role’ players, Charles Barkley is their ‘Role Model’ the Sixers rolls
Make sure that the Bucks and Heat get the memo. I have a sneaking suspicion that neither team will be losing to the 76ers.
It seems that you all have amnesia about how last postseason turned out for the 76ers. And have selective vision of who the 76ers have to go through to win the Eastern Conference.
One year ago, Rockets asking price was
Simmons
Maxey
Thybulle
And two first round picks
For once I agree with sillivan.
If the Heat end up with Dragic and a healthy Oladipo.. they will have done better than any other team adding players to their roster in season this year and not had to give up anything but a roster spot.
To give you perspective.. if they get dragic.. 14 of the 15 players on the team will have either scored 20 points in a game this season, or are easily capable of doing so. The 15th? Udonis Haslem who did it regularly in the past. That’s insanity to me.
Pretty much anyone in the league is capable of getting 20 on a given night.
….no lol
Oshae Brisset scored 22 points for the Pacers last night. He’s averaging 7 points a game and I guarantee you’ve never watched him hoop. So yes, 20 points a game is a very attainable total for about 80% of the NBA