The Sixers were scheduled to play a basketball game on Wednesday night and did so, winning the Wizards 141-136 and improving to 7-1.
These facts, and basketball in general, seemed secondary to the outside world.
Coach Doc Rivers was attentive and unafraid to care about things as he saw them before the game, when asked about pro-Trump rioters who invaded the Capitol in Washington, DC He described it as a “disturbing” day and said, “You could imagine if these were all Blacks invading the Capitol, and what would have happened? ”
The Celtics and Heat left the court before the scheduled game and then released a joint statement indicating that they decided to play to “try to bring joy to people’s lives”.
Bucks and Pistons players knelt after giving a tip.
The Sixers will play again on Thursday night against the Nets in Brooklyn. Below are remarks about his victory on Wednesday:
Curry can’t be missing
“When I get good pictures, I hope to take them with a very high percentage,” said Seth Curry on Saturday.
There is much evidence to support this feeling. Curry caught fire in this game, making 6 of his 7 attempts at three points and scoring 28 points, the best of the season. He is not a sniper who should lose confidence, but it is clear that he has it in abundance at the moment.
Curry bomb simulation has been very effective, partly because it is convincing in its own right and partly because not contesting your shot is risky. When the Sixers spin the ball around the perimeter and defenders approach it, their fake bomb is an especially useful tool.
The 30-year-old now hit 25 of 42 shots as Sixer (59.5%).
The Bradley Beal Show
The defense of the Sixers, who entered the game as the best in the NBA, allowed Bradley Beal to set a career record of 60 points in 20-by-35 shots, a tremendous individual effort by the two-time All-Star.
On the big picture, performances like Beal’s shouldn’t be a big concern. He is a difficult player for any team to defend, and the Sixers managed to win despite their inferior defense.
Still, Beal’s big night is a reminder that the Sixers do not have a conventional perimeter defender other than Ben Simmons, who defended Russel Westbrook and had 17 points and 12 assists. Danny Green forces turnovers and plays a smart team defense, but Simmons and Joel Embiid are several steps above any other Sixer defensively. Needless to say, it is still an excellent defensive base.
Speaking of Embiid, he scored 38 points and had three blocks and three steals, eventually finding an offensive groove after failing his first six field goal attempts, and providing important baskets in the final stretch. He had an impressive chase block at Wizards guard Raul Neto in the second quarter, running back to catch up with his much shorter former teammate.
A veteran’s response
Shake Milton scored just 40.5 percent of his field goals and 27.3 percent of three in the first seven games of the Sixers. However, it was only a matter of time before his shots started to drop at a higher rate. Milton’s composure, self-confidence and uncomplicated jumper were useful qualities early in his young NBA career. Green does not see the 24-year-old as one of the “youngsters” of the Sixers.
“He’s a vet in my mind – the way he acts, the way he moves, his mannerisms,” said Green last week.
Milton got 19 points on Wednesday in 6 of 9 shots, causing damage on all three levels.
He enjoyed the opportunity to play more with newcomer Tyrese Maxey because of injuries to Furkan Korkmaz (left adductor strain) and Mike Scott (left knee injury). Both players remained out against Washington.
“The boy can go – ‘Rese can go,” said Milton after the Sixers shootaround on Wednesday. “It’s definitely fun to have someone like that on the backcourt with you. He can dribble, kick, pass. He’s just an ace. Whenever you have an extra ace on the court, it’s fun to play with him. “
It will be interesting to see what Rivers will do with his bank when everyone is healthy. With the way Maxey’s fast, high-energy style fits Rivers’ desired pace, it would be surprising to see his minutes cut off drastically.