The Philadelphia 76ers fell victim to a missed foul on Nickeil Alexander-Walker’s backcourt, but they still left State Farm Arena with something to feel good about.
Paul George will always be skeptical as long as he cashes checks on his four-year, $212 million contract, but his 35 points proved a crucial truth: Philadelphia needs him. George had his best game in the red, white and blue in Philadelphia’s (14-11) 120-117 loss to the Atlanta Hawks (15-12) on Sunday night.
George’s continued success, VJ Edgecombe’s new run of success and multiple second-year slumps were three crucial observations in the 76ers’ eleventh loss of the season.
He still has it.
George led all scorers with 35 points, the most of his 76ers tenure, on 11-21 shooting from the field and 7-10 accuracy from three-point range. George’s production has increased in Tyrese Maxey’s absence, as tonight marks his third straight game with at least 20 points.
While his shot attempts may decrease when the guard returns, the way Philadelphia has used George should remain the same.
George’s shot diet consisted of on-and-off three-pointers and dribbles, many of which fell within the flow of the 76ers’ offense. Philadelphia wants to play up-tempo and the forward’s quick threes, whether he’s pulling the ball up or moving off the ball, aids the effort.
The 35-year-old’s rim pressure may vary given his age, but when he keeps defenses on their toes as a three-level goal-scoring threat, good things happen. George has also thrived as a point forward, often creating advantages from pick-and-rolls.
The 76ers struggled to match the size and length of the Hawks’ wings, but George did his best. His ability to switch screens, guard multiple positions and provide help on defense has led Philadelphia to a top 10 defensive rating despite its rim protection deficiencies.
Regardless of George’s annual value, his two-way impact is undeniable and the 76ers are better with him on the field.
VJ is back
Besides Joel Embiid, VJ Edgecombe was the main benefactor of the four-day holiday in Philadelphia last week.
Whether it was navigating rookie highs and lows or fully recovering from a calf cramp, Edgecombe looked more like the player who was the favorite for the Rookie of the Year award in the first week of the season. He recorded 26 points on 9-21 shooting from the field and six rebounds.
Every aspect of the guard’s game seems faster, from finding his spot without the ball to attacking off the dribble. Edgecombe’s athleticism will secure him a spot in the NBA to some extent, but it will be his ability to read the game and develop counters that will see him grow from a role player to a star, which he did tonight.
The rookie has remained critical despite the increased usage of Embiid and George in Maxey’s absence, but the same can’t be said for two Philadelphia sophomores.
Sophomore slumps
Jared McCain and Justin Edwards each scored zero points and missed all five of their field goal attempts. Defense, or lack thereof, has been the deciding factor in McCain’s limited usage lately, regardless of Maxey missed his second consecutive game with an illness. But the 21-year-old’s foul hasn’t made up for this.
He was ineffective as a spot-up shooter, uncharacteristically misfiring open threes, and struggled to continue defending the perimeter until the fourth quarter, where he recorded two steals. McCain became discouraged as a ball handler and fell victim to the Hawks’ suffocating pressure that discouraged him as a slasher.
Edwards gets minutes for two reasons: floor spacing and defense at the point of attack, and he has given neither. When his shots aren’t falling and players are knocking him off the dribble, it’s hard to justify his playing time.
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