3 observations after Sixers blow out NZ Breakers of their preseason opener initially appeared on NBC Sports activities Philadelphia
Inside a few minutes, there was little question the 2024-25 Sixers would start their preseason with an especially decisive victory.
The crew opened its preseason Monday night time at Wells Fargo Middle by coasting to a 139-84 win over the Nationwide Basketball League’s New Zealand Breakers.
Tyrese Maxey was among the many Sixers’ many environment friendly gamers, recording 15 first-quarter factors on 5-for-7 taking pictures (4 for five from three-point vary) and three assists.
Neither Joel Embiid nor Paul George performed as they ramp up for the video games that rely. Each gamers had been on the ground Monday morning following the Sixers’ shootaround.
The crew’s second exhibition recreation shall be Friday night time vs. the Timberwolves in Des Moines, Iowa. Listed here are observations on their blowout win towards the Breakers:
Drummond letting ‘em fly
Eric Gordon and Andre Drummond slid into the Sixers’ beginning lineup. True to type, Drummond was particularly fascinating to look at.
He scored the sport’s first hoop, ending inside off a Maxey hit-ahead feed. Gordon grew to become the fifth Sixers starter on the board when he drained a three-pointer after a Drummond offensive board. The big expertise disparity between the groups was instantly obvious; a Maxey triple grew the Sixers’ result in 13-1.
Drummond then received in on the three-point enjoyable, drilling a catch-and-shoot jumper from the left nook.
The final time Drummond made a regular-season three was Feb. 24, 2020. It appears fairly inconceivable that he’ll remodel right into a severe taking pictures menace, however he’s clearly been engaged on his jumper and is keen to fireside in video games when left wide-open. He tried one other one later within the first quarter and missed it.
Andre Drummond firing nook 3s, Sixers wrapping up shootaround forward of their preseason opener tonight vs. the New Zealand Breakers: pic.twitter.com/gwhsCPvlYf
— Noah Levick (@NoahLevick) October 7, 2024
Drummond performed the night time’s first seven minutes and alter, posting 5 factors and 5 rebounds in his opening stint. On a much less optimistic notice, he was referred to as for 2 early fouls. Drummond likes to poke round and seek for compelled turnovers, which is a trait the Sixers’ Nick Nurse will doubtless tolerate greater than the typical head coach.
Maxey and McCain’s shotmaking
Maxey’s outing was precisely what you’d anticipate from the one All-Star on the ground.
He performed your complete first interval and was speedy, shifty and not possible for the Breakers to cease. The fifth-year guard struck an excellent steadiness between aggressive shotmaking and spreading the ball round to his teammates, too.
Jared McCain additionally knocked down 4 three-pointers on 9 long-distance makes an attempt.
Within the second quarter, the rookie guard hit a step-back three and later canned two catch-and-shoot triples in a row. For a younger participant aiming to each impress and be taught the skilled recreation, it’s absolutely a pleasant confidence-builder to see jumpers drop.
McCain’s night time was a blended bag total. He was 1 for five contained in the arc and received overwhelmed a number of instances off the dribble defensively. In a team-high 28 minutes, the 20-year-old had 15 factors, seven rebounds and three assists.
Eye on the rotation image
Although Nurse on media day described Guerschon Yabusele as “not a 3 and … probably not a 5,” the 28-year-old Frenchman performed at middle behind Drummond. He’s evidently a backup huge man choice.
Showing within the NBA for the primary time since 2019, Yabusele had 15 factors on 6-for-6 taking pictures and two assists.
“It feels particular, simply to come back into the sector,” he mentioned Monday morning of his NBA return. “It’s been nice up to now. I’m simply having fun with it, attempting to have as a lot enjoyable as I can and studying to get higher.”
Yabusele will presumably play most of his minutes at energy ahead on full-strength nights for the Sixers. Regardless, he seems to be like a participant who ought to be capable of discover factors merely by operating the ground and planting himself within the paint at any time when he’s received a juicy cross-match. He ought to have some success as a tough curler off his screens as nicely.
Rookie Adem Bona was the Sixers’ third-string middle towards the Breakers, enjoying in youthful lineups with teammates like McCain, Justin Edwards and Lester Quinones.
Different rotation gadgets of notice:
Kyle Lowry shared the ground with Maxey for the ultimate 5 or so minutes of the primary quarter. The veteran notched 5 assists in his 10 first-half minutes.
KJ Martin performed behind Caleb Martin as a backup energy ahead and chipped in six factors, three rebounds and two steals. Nurse commented pregame that the Sixers have seen substantial enchancment from the 23-year-old Martin as a shooter since final season. He didn’t take any three-pointers Monday, however we’ll quickly see whether or not that progress interprets to video games.
Ricky Council IV confirmed off his explosive athleticism to the tune of 13 factors on 5-for-5 taking pictures and 6 rebounds. A spotlight’s all the time potential when he’s storming ahead within the open ground.
Like KJ Martin, Council will hope to earn early-season rotation time by robust preseason work.
