Ish Smith has been a spark for the Sixers
ORLANDO - Ish Smith is doing his best to avoid taking credit for the 76ers improved play. The team's recent success, however, suggests otherwise. The Sixers were 1-30 without the point guard. They are 5-8 in games following his reacquisition in a trade from the New Orleans Pelicans on Dec. 24.
ORLANDO - Ish Smith is doing his best to avoid taking credit for the 76ers improved play.
The team's recent success, however, suggests otherwise. The Sixers were 1-30 without the point guard. They are 5-8 in games following his reacquisition in a trade from the New Orleans Pelicans on Dec. 24.
But . . .
"It is not me," Smith said following Wednesday's 96-87 victory over the Orlando Magic at Amway Center. "I was so happy to be back with the guys and the team. I feel like that last 10 games, I built a relationship with the guys."
He believes the team has developed a strong camaraderie and is back to having fun playing basketball.
"It is not me at all," he said. "Before I got here, we were playing really good basketball and close games. So I don't think it is me. I just think we are growing up."
The Sixers (6-38) are indeed growing. But Smith provides a flair, leadership and experience from the point guard position that was missing in the first 31 games.
He finished with 13 points and 11 assists on Wednesday. It was his second consecutive double-double and fifth in 13 games as a Sixers. The Sixers first acquired Smith off of waivers in February. They opted not to resign him in the offseason.
But since he has been back, the Sixers are feeding off his energy and play. Several of his teammates elevated their play since his arrival.
On Wednesday, it was reserve guards Hollis Thompson and Isaiah Canaan, who benefited from Smith's ability to find open teammates and to penetrate.
Opposing teams attempt to limit Smith's penetration and alley-oop attempts on pick-and-roll, leaving the three-point shooters often alone on the perimeter. Thompson and Canaan made the Magic pay on those occasions.
Thompson finished with 17 points while making 3 of 5 three-pointers. Canaan added 15 points and made 3 of 4 threes.
Since his arrival, the Sixers have also developed a we-are-much-better-than-our-record-indicates swagger.
"Teams are probably coming with that mentality that playing against us is going to be easy," Robert Covington said. "But we are not going to allow that.
"Playing hard is what we do the most. We are young. We are athletic. We have a group of guys that no matter what, we are not going to give up."