Ilyasova makes his return special
PHILADELPHIA » It was like Ersan Ilyasova never left, the 30-year-old veteran scoring 11 of his 18 points in the final frame Friday to spark the Sixers to a 110-99 win over the Charlotte Hornets at the Wells Fargo Center.
Ilyasova also drew an offensive foul with his patented flop to bring a smile to the face of coach Brett Brown.
“He took a massive charge at the end of the game that he got rewarded for,” Brown said. “He’s a massive pickup at this stage, in my eyes.”
The Sixers last year dealt Ilyasova to the Atlanta Hawks for a draft pick and an expiring contract. The Hawks bought him out this week and a couple of days later, he signed with the Sixers.
The 6-10, 235-pound Ilyasova declined to mention the other offers he received. There was no issue answering why he came back to the Sixers, who he views as a playoff team.
“I’m familiar with the system, the way they play,” Ilyasova said. “It’s a secure spot in the lineup. … I think when you look at this conference, everybody is close to each other. I think everybody is beatable. I think from this point on it’s about us.”
In addition points, Ilyasova to gave the the Sixers four rebounds and three assists in 23 minutes off the bench. Brown liked the way the veteran blended in with Joel Embiid, who registered game-highs of 23 points and 15 rebounds, and Dario Saric, who, limited to 28 minutes due to foul trouble, had nine points, seven boards and six assists.
“I’m going to grow him in different ways,” said Brown, who intends to use Ilyasova at center and forward. “I think we have something unique. You see him have the ability to make great passes from that pickand-roll spot. I put him and Joel in some pick and rolls and they delivered. He was able to make that pass. He was sort of able to throw and go with Joel and cut.”
Embiid isn’t as concerned about role as the firepower Ilyasova brings off the bench.
I’m excited to have him back,” Embiid said. “I told him, ‘Let’s do whatever we had going on last year.’ He played great.”
*** The Sixers passed a gut check, at least in the eyes of Brown.
Winning the second of back-to-back games after a late flight home from Cleveland that got the players into their places “about 2:33” in the morning impressed the boss.
“And the 19 defensive points in a fourth period after playing last night, I’m really proud of,” Brown said. “And I’m really proud of our nine assists in the same period. To have 36 points and to hold them to 19 points in the same period is good team basketball. It’s a very good win. It’s a solid win.”
The Sixers have won nine of their last 11 games. It was their 11th straight home victory, including their 13th straight win in the building.
It also was the Sixers’ fifth game in seven nights.
“I think we’ve got it all,” Brown said. “I think that locker room is spirited. I think they’re extremely together. They co-exist as well as any team since I’ve been here.”
*** Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham, whose sack of Tom Brady sparked the team to the Super Bowl title, rang the bell at the Sixers game. Afterword Graham had chat with Brown. “To sort of be just a normal fan and following the Eagles’ story is something a I have tremendous respect for just as a sportsman,” Brown said. “I understand how hard it is to be the last man standing. And the path that they took, and the perseverance that they clearly had after a great player goes down and they still maintained the belief, how can we all not say, ‘I want that? We want that.’”
*** Sixers first-round pick Markelle Fultz was knocking down three-pointers in pre-game.
No sign of physical with the guard.
*** And finally, a Frosty alert: Save your tickets.
The day after an opposing player misses two consecutive free-throw attempts in the second half of a Sixers game, fans are eligible for a free small Frosty by mentioning “Wendy’s Frosty Freezeout” at participating locations.
Dwight Howard got you two Frostys, Marvin Williams another. issues