Doc Rivers thinks his Sixers have much to improve. He might be right. | Off the Dribble
The Sixers have jumped out to a 15-6 record, but their schedule so far is tied for the weakest in the NBA.
Good morning, Sixers fans. The Sixers had a rare day of practice Tuesday in Charlotte in preparation for tonight’s game against the Hornets.
At 15-6, the Sixers have the best record in the Eastern Conference. Things have been going well, but hearing coach Doc Rivers talk after practice Tuesday, one would think the Sixers were fighting for their playoff lives.
You’re signed up to get this newsletter in your inbox every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. If you like what you’re reading, tell your friends it’s free to sign up here. I want to know what you think, what we should add, and what you want to read, so send me feedback by email or on Twitter @SJnard. Thank you for reading.
— Marc Narducci ([email protected])
Doc looking for much more
It’s clear that Rivers hasn’t been reading the Sixers’ press clippings or, for that matter, the NBA standings.
“I don’t think we are even close to where we can be,” he said. “It’s nice to know that while you’re going through this, you are winning games, because in our league, you have to keep winning as you’re learning and getting better.”
Of course, there likely isn’t a coach who claims to being satisfied with his team, but Rivers could have a real case for thinking the Sixers can get better. Sure, the Sixers are 15-6, but they haven’t played the most challenging of schedules.
Entering Tuesday, the Sixers were tied for weakest strength of schedule in the NBA with the Milwaukee Bucks. According to ESPN, both had played teams with a combined .470 winning percentage.
The Sixers have four wins over teams with current winning records. Those include two home victories in three days over the Boston Celtics, who were without All-Star Jayson Tatum both games because of health and safety protocols. (Of course the Sixers have lost games when they were far from full strength. They are 1-4 without Joel Embiid in the lineup, 0-2 without Ben Simmons.)
The other victories over winning teams were last Wednesday’s 107-106 home win over the Los Angeles Lakers and Sunday’s 119-110 comeback win at Indiana.
Rivers is so intent on seeing improvement that little details such as the Sixers’ record have escaped him.
“I have no idea what our record is,” Rivers said.
“I’m just focused on getting better, like we have to get to work,” he said. “We have to get better.”
So while others are praising the Sixers, Rivers is pumping the brakes.
“We have a long way to go, which is great because we’re winning and getting better,” Rivers said. “That is what you want.”
The Sixers will be challenged by the rest of their first-half schedule. According to Tankathon, entering Tuesday, the Sixers have the eighth-toughest schedule strength remaining. Their final 16 first-half games are against teams with a .514 winning percentage.
Starting five
Seth Curry is looking to regain his form since recovering from a battle with COVID-19. His statistics have been down in the six games since he returned to the lineup.
In The Inquirer’s weekly NBA power rankings, the Sixers are at their highest at No. 2, just behind the Los Angeles Clippers.
Keith Pompey writes that the Sixers showed resiliency in their most gratifying win of the season, Sunday’s victory at Indiana, where they overcame a late third-quarter deficit of 20 points.
Sixers two-way player Rayjon Tucker offers the Delaware Blue Coats bubble experience, after being a member of the Utah Jazz last year.
David Murphy writes that the Sixers need a second consistent scorer to complement Joel Embiid. Murphy contends that the Sixers need more of what Tobias Harris is showing after he scored a season-high 27 points during the win at Indiana.
Meeting up with Gordon Hayward
One of the main obstacles the Sixers will face on Wednesday against the Hornets is Gordon Hayward.
In the offseason, Hayward declined his player option with the Boston Celtics. He eventually was sent to the Charlotte Hornets in a sign-and-trade after agreeing to a four-year, $120 million contract.
Hayward, 30, went from often being the fourth option on the Celtics to the No. 1 man at Charlotte.
A one-time All-Star with the Utah Jazz, Hayward is leading the Hornets in scoring, averaging a career-high 23 points. Hayward is shooting 43% from three-point range and has a career-best .573 effective field-goal percentage. He has put himself into All-Star consideration.
In 22 career games against the Sixers, he is averaging 15.7 points. During his two games this season against the Sixers, he is averaging 19 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists. The Hornets are 0-2 in those games.
Important dates
Wednesday: Sixers at Charlotte Hornets, 7 p.m., Spectrum Center, NBC Sports Philadelphia
Thursday: Portland Trail Blazers at Sixers, 8 p.m., Wells Fargo Center, NBC Sports Philadelphia
Saturday: Brooklyn Nets at Sixers, 8 p.m., Wells Fargo Center, NBC Sports Philadelphia
Tuesday: Sixers at Sacramento Kings, 10 p.m., Golden 1 Center, NBC Sports Philadelphia Plus
Feb. 11: Sixers at Portland Trail Blazers, 10 p.m., Moda Center, NBC Sports Philadelphia Plus/TNT
Passing the rock
Question: Do they regret trading Mikal Bridges, who has turned into quite a fine player in Phoenix? — David Cohen on Facebook
Answer: Thanks for the question, David. In one word, yes, they regret that trade.
On draft night in 2018, the Sixers selected Bridges at No. 10 and traded his rights to Phoenix for the No. 16 pick (Zhaire Smith) and Miami’s 2021 first-round pick. Smith lasted only two seasons with the Sixers and is out of the NBA. Now in his third season, Bridges, a two-time national champion with Villanova, is averaging 14.6 points and is also a defensive presence.
If there is a silver lining, that 2021 first-round pick of Miami that the Sixers acquired was used in the multiplayer trade that brought them Tobias Harris, so there was some value from that deal.