The Sixers Are Finding Their Shot
The Sixers got off to hot start to begin their season. They were 5-0 and looked like the class of the NBA. Despite their league-best record, there were clear concerns about the team’s shooting. Although they were consistently creating open looks from three, they were connecting on just 31.5% of their shots; 24th in the NBA at the time.
The shooting concerns only became increasingly evident as the Sixers went on to lose five of their next seven games. Tobias Harris found himself shooting 14% (4/28) from three over the stretch and doubts began to grow about the entire make up of the time.
Then, much like when the Fire Nation attacked, everything changed. The Sixers have won ten of their last 12 and lead the league with a 40.4 three point percentage over that span. This large uptick can be attributed to the resurgence of Harris as well as the emergence of several role players.
Since his shooting slump, Harris is shooting 38.8% from three on about five three point attempts per game. He is beginning to look more and more like his Clippers-self, which is something we haven’t seen often since he’s donned a Sixers uniform.
In addition to Harris, players like Matisse Thybulle and James Ennis have begun to make their presence felt from outside. At the time of their loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Thybulle was shooting just 26% from three and had only made six three pointers in total. Since then, he’s shooting 59.2% from three and his 44% from three is third among all rookies attempting at least two three’s per game. He is currently 17th among all players in three point percentage.
Ennis was going through a slump similar to Thybulle’s prior to the Sixers loss against the Thunder. He was shooting only 25% from three and made only four three pointers through the team’s first 12 games. Over the last 12 games however, he’s shooting 50% from three on three attempts per game and ranks 26th among all players in three point percentage. He is also shooting 52.4% on corner three’s, which is among the best in the league.
Some other percentages worth noting include Al Horford’s 51.6% from three over the last twelve games, Mike Scott’s 46.2% over the last four games, and Raul Neto 66.7% (SIXTY-SIX POINT SEVEN!!!) over the last four games.
Oh and Ben Simmons also made two three pointers over the last eleven games, but that’s old news.
Despite the fact they were missing shots early in the season, the hope was always that the Sixers open looks would eventually start to drop. The hope has finally come to fruition and the shots are now falling at a league high clip. Of course, all this means the Sixers are due for a massive slump any day now, but I’m gonna soak up these thicc percentages while they last.
*Article written prior to Sixers’ victory over the Denver Nuggets
