The Sixers Bench Must Step Up!
The Sixers Bench Must Step Up!
Over the past couple of games we got a chance to see the Sixers bench become a more cohesive unit. It was great for the bench players to gain some confidence and find their specific roles come playoff time. Bench play is a vital component to a teams success in the playoffs, especially for an injured Sixers team. Let’s take a look at how each individual role player can make an impact for the Sixers during the bubble playoffs.
Alec Burks
Burks continues to expand his role by playing some great minutes coming off the bench. He has proven to be the player the Sixers so desperately need: A ball handler who can create his own shot. Alec Burks will end up being not only one of the most important Sixer off the bench, but one of the most important Sixer on the roster this upcoming playoffs. If the former Warrior can continue to create space, then he will make a major impact for the Sixers offense.
Furkan Korkmaz
The Sixers need everyone to be on their A-game without Ben Simmons, but most importantly, we need Forkan to BALL OUT!! Forkan is probably the most important bench player because he can be inconsistent at times. The Turkish sharpshooter ended the pre-COVID season on a hot streak but he certainly cooled down in the beginning of the bubble. Korkmaz had 21 against the Raptors and 12 against the Suns. He hit 5 threes against the Raptors while shooting 50% from the field.
A downside to Furk’s game is that he can be a defensive liability, especially against the Celtics. Korkmaz’s defense has improved since last year but teams will still relentlessly attack him. Especially the athletic wing players for the Celtics. Forkan can certainly be an X-factor in the playoffs. We need him to bring it. There’s no exceptions. If Forkan can provide multiple threes a game off the bench, then he will have done his job. With the Sixers lacking a J.J. Redick type player, there’s no room for error in Forkan’s game.
Matisse Thybulle
Our beloved rookie makes his playoff debut. Thybulle’s three point percentage has been on a downward slope ever since the early months of the season. He averages about a three a game. If Thybulle can continue to knock down a three or two a game, it will go a long way for his offense. His ball handling has slightly improved. He is a little bit less of a turnover machine, however, he still tends to have some sloppy giveaways. Thybulle is ridiculous in short defensive spurts, but his on-ball defense still needs some improving. Matisse’s defense works best when he is off the ball getting his long arms in passing lanes or coming away with a steal from help defense.
The rookie has been tough to keep on the court because his aggressive on ball defense gets him into foul trouble. NBA defense is a lot tougher than college defense considering the offense is given a huge advantage. Matisse is still learning how to defend without fouling. Being overly aggressive isn’t the worst trait to have. This is a huge series for Matisse and he is going to be given a much bigger role. It is crucial that Matisse stays out of foul trouble so that he can expand his minutes. The Rookie will be asked to defend the athletic wingers of either Brown or Tatum. It is a great opportunity for Thybulle to show his all-around defensive talents.
Glenn Robinson III
While the Sixers need production out of everyone, Robinson is another player I can see providing some vital minutes off the bench. Robinson scored 15 points while shooting 55 percent from the field against the Suns. He added 3 threes in 25 minutes of play. Robinson played better than expected in the bubble scrimmages before picking up a minor injury. He is expected to miss the early games in the series, however, Robinson certainly adds some fluidity to the half-court offense. He moves well without the ball and he can space the floor. His defense isn’t horrible and he is tall and lengthy. Glenn got off to a rough start with the team when he came over after the trade deadline. He couldn’t find his shot and he was unsure about his role on the team. He started to shoot much better right before the league got shut down, and he has continued to improve his game, despite limited action. It will be interesting to see how many minutes Robinson will get vs the Celtics. If he does have limited action, he can easily increase his minutes by simply knocking down 3s coming off the bench. We need every 3 point basket we can take.
Raul Neto
After playing waaaaaaaaaay too many minutes in the first two bubble games, Neto’s role decreased during important wins vs the Wizards and Magic. Every Neto play is either zero or a hundred. There’s no in-between. It is either a great play or an unwatchable, pathetic sequence of events. Neto earned back some minutes while playing with the bench lineup against the Suns and Raptors. In those games, he ended up scoring 22 and 17. Honestly, Neto could score 50 points, while hitting the game winning shot and I’d still be mad at him. There are some possessions where he dribbles the ball for 24 straight seconds without anyone else touching it. I was very relieved when Alec Burks took most of Neto’s minutes. It was about time. Burks proved that he can handle the ball well enough to initiate the offense.
I really don’t know how many minutes we’ll see from Neto. The relationship of Neto and Brett Brown is unpredictable. He could get zero minutes or he could get 25. I expect to only see Neto is emergency situations, but without Ben, there is definitely potential to see Neto receive some backup minutes. Hopefully Shake steps up so that we don’t need to see Neto in action.
Mike Scott
The Threegional Manager is back!!! Hopefully… Mike Scott was a key role player for the Sixers in last years playoff series against the Nets. For most the season this year I was worried that the Monstars had stolen Scott’s talent. For a big stretch of games, Mike Scott looked abysmal and disinterested. The last two games provided hope that Scott can add positive minutes in the playoffs. Scott had 17 points against the Suns in only 22 minutes of action. He also provided 12 points against the Raptors. In those two games, Scott drained 5 threes on 7 attempts. Just like Robinson and Forkan, all Mike Scott has to do his hit threes. That’s all we ask of him.
With Simmons gone, there is more potential for spacing and fluidity in the half-court. Since Embiid will be doubled, we need our shooters ready to fire away. That includes our tattooed fan favorite. Scott had a horrific couple of scrimmages and surely played his way to zero minutes a game in the playoffs. After the performances against the Suns and Raptors, there is hope that Scott will serve some minutes against the Celtics.
Mike Scott could end up being a very important player off the bench. Scott can provide some energy and toughness for the second line. The small ball lineup with him at center against the TrailBlazers ended up being pretty effective. Could we possibly see that at any point against the Celtics? Mike Scott will most likely see very limited action, but if he continues his hot streak, he could turn into a very important X-factor coming off the bench.
