Big defensive effort quiets Giannis, Bucks
PHILADELPHIA » Though it was never openly advertised, the Sixers were built this season with one major plan in mind: If they were going to win the NBA’s Eastern Conference, and that was their stated mission, they were going to have to find a way to neutralize reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
In a 121-109 victory Wednesday afternoon against the rampaging Milwaukee Bucks, the Sixers showed they are structured to be as capable as any team to match up against the 6-11 do-everything sort with the 7-3 wingspan.
With Al Horford muscling him along the baseline and Joel Embiid overwhelming him every place else, the Sixers held Antetokounmpo to 8-for-27 shooting, including 0-for-7 from beyond the arc.
“We did some pretty good things,” Brett Brown said. “The job Al and Joel did on Giannis was outstanding. And we needed all of that to find a way tonight.”
Though everything from contract fine-print to locker room demeanor to sheer circumstance had nudged the Sixers to effectively replace Jimmy Butler with Horford, the prospect of an Eastern Conference finals matchup against the Bucks was a consideration.
In a game that had playoff intensity, the Sixers left the message that they have the muscle to suppress Antetokounmpo and, as such, humanize a Milwaukee team that had entered at
27-4.
“How to beat Milwaukee was certainly a part of all the discussions,” Brown said. “And while it may be a little unusual to have your center starting on Giannis, tonight those two were very good. And it was a part of our discussion when we brought Al in.”
The defensive excellence of Embiid against Antetokounmpo continued to fuel a developing Sixers’ in-house competition.
Both Embiid and Ben Simmons have openly campaigned to be the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year. Both will be in the race.
When Tobias Harris made mention of Embiid’s candidacy Wednesday, Simmons playfully demanded equal time.
“He wants it, too,” Simmons said, smiling. “But I want it.”
Harris, who wouldn’t mind a vote or two himself, tried to soften his endorsement of Embiid.
“We look at Joel as the best defensive ‘big’ in the game,” he said. “So why not give him Defensive Player of the Year?”
As for Embiid, he stayed out of the friendly mudslinging.
“If I don’t get it,” he said, “I hope we can all be on the first All-Defensive team.”
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For Harris, playing on national TV on Christmas was a gift.
“It definitely lived up to the hype for me,” said Harris,
who scored 22 in his first Christmas Day NBA game. “As a kid growing up, I was glued to the TV to watch NBA stars on Christmas Day. And to be able to go out and play was truly a blessing.”
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Josh Richardson, slowed for a while by a wrist injury, is starting to appear more comfortable in the offense. Three games ago, he scored
21 against Washington. After a nine-point contribution to a win in Detroit, he scored 16 Wednesday, shooting 4-for-11 from deep.
“I took the tape off my wrist, but I didn’t tell anyone, last game,” the guard confessed. “It’s feeling better. And I am happy with it.”
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For purposes of analyzing his own team, Brown long has preferred to break an NBA regular season into three parts: Pre-Christmas,
Christmas to the All-Star Break and the stretch run.
The Sixers finished Chapter 1 with a 23-10 record and a 16-2 mark at home, having just completed their most impressive game of their season.
Next phase?
“The road we have traveled so far has been a little bit erratic at times,” Brown conceded. “Whether it’s the infrequency of our five players playing together, whether it is navigating through some zones or some lost leads, you are under a microscope, trying to move this team forward and get it whole and improve it.
“But I think the landing spot is exciting. We will critically assess what we do in the middle third and try to move us forward. But to date, I like some of the things that we have done against the best teams.”
• • • Brown long ago grew tired of the discussion. And Simmons, ever convinced of his basketball excellence, never likes it to be a topic.
So when Elton Brand surfaced for questioning Wednesday, it was his turn to hedge when Simmons’ refusal to take 3-point shots leaked into the conversation.
“We believe in Ben,” the general manager said. “We believe in his shot and his progression. He is a point guard. He had 17 assists the other night. He wants to make the highest-percentage play every time.”
And so, there was another spin to it all, lopped atop Brown’s recent change-up when he began to re-brand Simmons as an offensive rebounder. Seems the team will sell him as an unselfish player who knows he can better help the Sixers
score by finding somebody else to do so from deep.
Simmons was excellent Wednesday, in a free-flowing game, dishing 14 assists and scoring 15 points. As for his total of 3-pointers attempted on the season, that remained steady at two.
“It’s a work in progress,” Brand said. “Once he gains the confidence and realizes that it is a high-percentage play for the team and for us, we will be fine. And he will be fine.”
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NOTES » The Sixers’ 21 made three-pointers tied a franchise record set last Jan. 15 in Minnesota … The Sixers will play their next four on the road, beginning Friday night at 7 in Orlando … The Sixers have scored 120 or more points in each of their last three games, all wins.