The Blue Review: checking in on the Blue Coats at the quarter season mark
Introducing the Blue Review, a new series from the Phifth Quarter keeping you up to date on the 76ers’ G-League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats
The Blue Coats are off to their best starts since they changed their name from the 87ers, wining eight of their first 12 games. The Coats are 10-6, fourth in the Eastern conference, after dropping back-to-back close games at the G-League showcase. Prior to the showcase, the Coats were the second best team in the Eastern conference and fourth best in the entire G-League
Through the first quarter of the season, the Coats have established themselves as one of the best teams in the NBA’s minor league. The Blue Coats currently rank top-five in:
- Points: 121.4 (1st)
- Field Goal Percentage: 47.6% (4th)
- Effective Field Goal Percentage: 54% (4th)
- True Shooting Percentage: 60.4% (1st)
- Free Throws per game: 15.9 (5th)
- Free Throw Percentage: 77.6% (3rd)
- Rebounds: 53.1 (2nd)
- Rebound Percentage: 54.1% (1st)
- Blocks: 7.8 (1st)
- Pace: 112.02 (1st)
In addition to these top-five marks, the Coats are also seventh in the G-League in offensive rating (108.2) and net rating (2.3). Despite these impressive numbers, mental errors have run rampant. They’re 28th in the league in turnovers per game (22.8) and 27th in fouls per game (24.6).
Leading the way for the Coats has been Sixers second-round pick Marial Shayok, whose 24.8 points per game is tied for fourth best in the G-League. Shayok earned G-League Player of the Week honors to start the season and has yet to slow down.
Marial Shayok 🇨🇦 tallied 28 PTS, 4 3PT, 9 REB & 5 AST in 31 minutes of action for the @blue_coats!#ChangeTheGame | @nbagleague pic.twitter.com/bejQZ0AHmP
— NBA Canada (@NBACanada) December 22, 2019
Shake Milton has also begun to have his presence felt in the G-League. Over the last three games, Shake is averaging 29 points per game while shooting a blistery 50% from three on eight attempts per game. If he keeps this pace up, he could see himself in Philly while Matisse Thybulle is on the mend with a knee injury.
*Editor’s note: Shake Milton was recalled by the 76ers on Monday
Top 3️⃣ Highlights: @SniperShake
Milton earns Saturday’s Specialist of the Game, presented by Delaware Orthopaedic Specialists!#PhilaUnite x #JoinTheRevolution
🎥⤵️ pic.twitter.com/sWZY6o9VYh
— Delaware Blue Coats (@blue_coats) December 22, 2019
The most encouraging recent development for the Blue Coats however has to be the slow development of Zhaire Smith. While I have been critical of Smith at times this season, he is beginning to show signs of life after injuries slowed him to start the season. Although his stats might not jump off the page, he can still jump over literally everything else and his three point shot is starting to come together.
Throw it 🆙 for @zhaire_smith!#JoinTheRevolution pic.twitter.com/WE0EXKfrZI
— Delaware Blue Coats (@blue_coats) December 21, 2019
Zhaire Smith step back three 💞 pic.twitter.com/NFerTov66d
— Emiliano HNDRXX Naiaretti (@EmilianoNaiar8) December 20, 2019
As nice as it would be for Smith to play minutes with the Sixers, it’s important to remember he is still only 20 years old – two years younger than the next youngest player on the roster – and his development is more important than shoehorning him into the rotation.
This wraps the inaugural edition of the Blue Review, we’ll be back next week to catch you up on any and all of the important Blue Coats coverage you may have missed over the holiday season.
