Sixers’ bench production falls way short in Game 3 loss to Knicks, continuing a season-long issue
The Sixers had zero bench points through three quarters — and were ultimately outscored in that category, 29-11 — in Friday's loss to officially put their season on the brink.
As Friday’s third-quarter clock ticked down, Quentin Grimes launched a three-pointer from the left corner that hit nothing but air. Then on the opposite end of the floor, Landry Shamet buried a deep shot inside the arena he used to call home.
That sequence captured the jarring bench-production discrepancy in the 76ers’ 108-94 Game 3 loss to the New York Knicks at Xfinity Mobile Arena to officially put their season on the brink. The Sixers had zero bench points through three quarters — and were ultimately outscored in that category, 29-11 — in a virtual must-win game, given no NBA team has ever overcome a three-games-to-zero deficit to win a best-of-seven series.
And Friday’s second-unit shortcomings were a product of roster-building, coaching philosophy, and current state of trust and ability in this particular matchup against a Knicks team accumulating momentum during its postseason run.
» READ MORE: David Murphy: Joel Embiid and the Sixers get the home crowd they deserve in 108-94 Game 3 loss to Knicks
“We definitely need a push. Someone [to] come in and give us that extra little [oomph],” Sixers veteran wing Paul George said of those reserves. “That’s what it’s going to take, especially in the playoffs. You need everybody. You need role guys to step up and bench guys to step up.
“We’ve got the guys that can do it. I’m positive that we’ll make a turnaround for Game 4.”
Rotations typically shrink during the playoffs, leaving fewer impact opportunities for those bench players. Sixers coach Nick Nurse also has a long-standing belief in his best players logging heavy minutes.
All-Star point guard Tyrese Maxey, who takes immense pride in his relentless offseason and in-season fitness regimen, led the NBA in minutes per game during the regular season (38). VJ Edgecombe led all rookies in that category (35 minutes per game) as part of the most basketball he has physically played in his life. As a team, the Sixers ranked 27th in the NBA in bench scoring (32.4 per game).
The Knicks, meanwhile, were one spot worse, at 31.6 points per game. Yet even with New York’s depth taking a significant hit in missing injured standout wing OG Anunoby, Sixers star center Joel Embiid said “the other guys” besides All-NBA guard Jalen Brunson beat them.
That included complementary starters such as Mikal Bridges, who totaled 23 points and continued to play excellent defense on Maxey, and Josh Hart, who finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
But it also included Shamet, the former Sixer who scored 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting and was a plus-20. Or Mitchell Robinson, who returned from an illness to tally six points and six rebounds and survived another round of Hack-A-Mitch by making four of eight free throws. Or Jordan Clarkson, who had four points, five rebounds, and three assists and was a plus-11. All nine of the Knicks who played meaningful minutes scored.
» READ MORE: Knicks fans had ‘boots on the ground’ at ‘MSG South’ for a Game 3 takeover in South Philly
“As a coach, you love to see it,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said after the game. “And that’s why you give different guys opportunities at different times. … What hopefully it shows at the end of the day, coming from me, is that I have confidence in them and, not only that, your number could be called at any time, so be ready.
“Our guys have taken that to heart. We have a lot of good guys that are resilient. They’re fighters. And they’ve done a good job or keeping their mind or staying present in whatever we’re doing, and it’s showing when they go out there and get the opportunity.”
The Sixers also played nine players during Friday’s meaningful action, though reserve centers Andre Drummond and Adem Bona only combined for six minutes. Dominick Barlow, an intriguing frontcourt option after his Game 2 performance, quickly picked up two fouls once he entered the game for the first time and did not play again until a small-ball center stint to begin the fourth.
Grimes (six points, two rebounds, two assists in 22 minutes) had a plus/minus of minus-17, as part of the group on the floor when the Sixers “didn’t hold the water very good,” Nurse said, when the Knicks flipped a 12-point first-quarter deficit into a 12-point second-quarter lead. Grimes also was out there again for the bulk of the final period, when New York re-extended its advantage to 16 points.
Grimes did finally give the Sixers their first bench points when he hit a right-wing three early in the fourth quarter. He then sank another long-range shot, and swiped a steal that led to a Barlow transition dunk to cut the Knicks’ lead to 92-86 with less than eight minutes remaining. But New York answered with a 13-3 run to put the game away.
“Just try to find the right combinations of who stays and who comes in,” Nurse said of how he distributes the bench minutes, “and generate some makable shots and things like that.”
Like the regular season, bench production was an issue for the Sixers throughout the playoffs — other than Grimes’ 18-point breakout in Game 5 of their dramatic first-round win over the Boston Celtics. They entered Friday 15th out of 16 playoff teams in bench points (18.3 per game) and minutes (13.1 per game).
» READ MORE: Marcus Hayes: Tyrese Maxey has disappeared vs. the Knicks, thanks to Villanova’s Mikal Bridges and Jalen Brunson
Fatigue clearly was a factor for the Sixers while immediately transitioning from a grueling Game 7 victory in Boston to this series against the Knicks. Perhaps the only silver lining of the Sixers’ Game 1 blowout defeat was that Nurse pulled starters early. But all five first-teamers played at least 35 minutes Friday. And Maxey looked visibly spent two nights prior, after playing nearly 47 of 48 minutes in a tight Game 2 loss.
Recent results also make it worth revisiting the trade deadline, when Embiid publicly asked the front office to improve the team and not duck the luxury tax. Instead, the Sixers traded popular second-year guard Jared McCain for a collection of draft picks. The only player they added was veteran guard Cameron Payne, who was waived late in the regular season because of a hamstring injury that could have impacted his postseason availability.
Perhaps belief existed that McCain would not be a playoff contributor this season or ever, because of his size and defensive limitations. But in the defending-champion Oklahoma City Thunder’s Game 2 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, McCain scored 18 points in 18 minutes while shooting 4-of-5 from three-point range. He also went 4-of-5 from beyond the arc for 12 points in the Thunder’s Game 1 victory. That might have proven valuable for a Sixers team that could have used more long-range shooting during both playoff series, including Friday’s 9-of-32 output.
The Sixers’ Friday night did eventually end with Nurse sending in a bench brigade, because the outcome had all but been decided.
And in order to keep their season alive Sunday, Embiid said the Sixers must “focus on ‘the others,’ and go from there.” An extra little oomph from their own reserves would be welcomed, too.
