76er players favorite Disney Rides (Based on their Style of Play)
Ben Simmons- Test Track
Test Track in Epcot is the fastest ride at Disney clocking in at 64 mph. Test Track is a high speed simulated crash course that General Motors uses to evaluate its cars. Towards the end of the ride, the car takes its riders through a straight-shot road where it gradually increases its speed until it reaches the max pace, similar to Ben Simmons in transition. The 6’10 point guard has a wicked burst that tops 19.7 mph on a fast-break. When Simmons gets a rebound and goes coast to coast, there are not many people in the league that can stop him. After a couple of strides, Simmons has a voice in his head saying “Increasing Speed by 15.”
Joel Embiid- The Tower of Terror
Joel Embiid is every defender’s nightmare when he has a good night. Tower of Terror is one of the tallest rides at Disney, consisting of a 13 story drop. The tower is 199 feet tall and is an extremely intimidating structure. Although I would never expect Joel to ride this ride considering he couldn’t go down a water slide, Joel most likely gives nightmares to defenders on the night before a game. Joel Embiid’s average +/- through 4 years is nearing 5, making him an undeniably valuable asset for the Sixers. You might want to buckle up before the elevator drops.
Al Horford- “It’s a Small World”
“It’s a Small World” is a timeless classic in theory, but an outdated headache in reality. The ride is located in Fantasyland, and in our fantasy, Horford was the perfect addition to the Sixers roster in June. As fans, we attempted to convince ourselves that Horford was a great addition to the roster. I was doing the same, but even back in June, I had my doubts. Horford thus far has been a terrible fit for the system. He has been dreadfully inefficient from three, a waste of space on offense, and he most certainly lost a step on defense. When I go back to Disney I think, “yeah let’s ride It’s a Small World for old times sake..” But when I’m two minutes into the ride I’m thinking, “oh my gosh please get me off this ride,” that’s how the Horford experience has gone so far.
I still have hope for the Veteran Center going into the bubble. With Al now coming off the bench, it will greatly improve their spacing in the half-court by allowing an extra shooter on the floor in either Shake, Forkan, or Matisse. Horford’s veteran presence can make an impact going into the playoffs. That’s something the Sixers have missed out on in the past. The Playoffs are a different game. The defense becomes more intense, it’s harder to score from the perimeter, and bench play becomes much more important. I still believe that Horford can find his role going into the bubble. He can still be a proficient back up for Embiid. He just can’t be on the floor with Embiid and Simmons at the same time.
Matisse Thybulle- Expedition Everest
Where did the track go? No, it wasn’t the Yeti lurking in the mountains… It was just Matisse being one of the best rookie defenders the NBA has ever seen. Thybulle was a defensive force the very first game he played. Brown had full confidence in his defensive ability sticking him to Kemba Walker in his first game ever. Matisse averages 1.4 steals per game and has a 103.6 defensive rating. We’ve witnessed Matisse improve his offensive abilities throughout the season, but he still has ways to go on that side of the ball. Matisse shot 35% on 2.5 threes a game. If Matisse can improve his three-point shooting and expand his dribble-drive game, he can grow into an extremely effective three and D player. Thybulle’s potential is exceptionally exciting. Matisse’s intimidating defense makes him the prime suspect for the thief who stole the Everest track.
Furkan Korkmaz- Toy Story Mania
Fans were skeptical when Brett claimed that Furkan was going to grow into a “bomber.” I’m man enough to admit when I’m wrong. Furkan barely made the team this season but early on, he capitalized on every chance he got. It took all but 5 games for Furkan to solidify himself as the “bomber” that the team desperately needed when he drilled the game-winner against Portland. Korkmaz’s favorite ride is the interactive shooting game called Toy Story Mania. The Turkish sharpshooting guard shot 39% from three on 5 attempts per game. Furky nearly doubled his points per game and minutes per game from the previous year. Furkan has turned himself into a reliable role player who proved that he can contribute to the team in a large sample size of minutes. Korkmaz’s confidence has risen every game and it’s going to be exciting to see if he can remain hot going into the bubble. You can catch Furkan on the Toy Story ride practicing his shooting.
