PHILADELPHIA–Late in the second half of a 120-111 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, the Philadelphia 76ers threw out a new lineup that hasn’t been seen often while out on the floor: a 3-guard lineup.
Now, the Sixers really haven’t been able to use this lineup due to various injuries to James Harden and Tyrese Maxey, but now that they have their full complement of players, they can throw that lineup out there and see what happens.
On Monday, the Sixers ran out Harden, Maxey, and De’Anthony Melton running things on the perimeter along with Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris. Having three players who can handle the ball, shoot, and get to the basket was a big benefit in terms of closing the game out.
Making Embiid’s job easier
“They’re gonna make my life easier,” said Embiid. “We got three great shooters, a great playmaker in James and defensively, everybody’s doing their job. We just got to get better as a team, make sure everybody knows the right timing of what we’re doing, and we’ll be fine.”
The league is so predicated on having guards who can do a little bit of everything out on the floor. The Sixers have a few of those guards so it would make sense why they would throw that lineup out there together.
It’s an easy lineup
“I think it’s easier on all three of us because whoever’s getting pressured or whoever is like, they have their Hound Dog on, any one of us can bring the ball up and then kind of relieve pressure from each other,” added Maxey. “Then you have guys that can shoot and handle all dribbles, come off pick-and-roll play off pick-and-roll, get downhill and score, and then you get three competitive guys out there that’s gonna compete on a defensive end as well. So it’s cool playing with them.”
With that lineup out there, the Sixers are able to get downhill and attack which is exactly what coach Doc Rivers wants to see more of.
Getting into the paint
“Attacking,” added Harden. “Offensively, spacing, getting into the paint, creating for one another. The thing with that lineup, we just gotta do a really good job of rebounding. The more opportunities we can get if we can stay healthy and with those lineups, I think the better we’ll be.”
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Rivers wants to make it easier for Embiid
“It’s a lineup that we can go to because we think we can increase some pace into the game,” said Rivers. “We like it when Joel’s out on the floor because now you have three guards that can come off pick-and-roll with Jo and if they help at all, you have two guards with speed that can catch it and play. We like that.”
The Sixers will look to grow this lineup on Wednesday when they host the Indiana Pacers.
Story originally appeared on Sixers Wire
