Six takeaways from the Sixers’ 119-116 win over Indiana
Joel Embiid, despite looking exhausted, had a big performance on the second game of a back-to-back.
Ben Simmons, left, of the Sixers comes from behind to block a shot by Malcom Brogdon of the Pacers during the 2nd half at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 30, 2019.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
A clutch performance by Joel Embiid and great defense by Ben Simmons highlighted the game. Here are six takeaways:
Embiid looked exhausted
Still, on the second game of a back-to-back, he gutted things out against the Pacers. More impressively, Embiid continued to draw fouls down low, and he made his free throws (15-for-15). Whether he will continue to play both ends of a back-to-back remains to be seen, but on this night he was indispensable.
Simmons size really helps
Especially on the pick-and-roll defense. In the fourth quarter, the Pacers ran a pick-and-roll, and Simmons was able to cover 6-foot-11 Doantas Sabonis, who wasn’t able to post the 6-10 Simmons up. He also also made three crucial late-game steals, showing his tremendous defensive anticipation and quickness.
Tobias Harris of the Sixers celebrates after tying the game at 109 against the Pacers during the 4th quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 30, 2019.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Ben Simmons, left, of the Sixers comes from behind to block a shot by Malcom Brogdon of the Pacers during the 2nd half at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 30, 2019.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Ben Simmons, left, of the Sixers comes from behind to block a shot by Malcom Brogdon of the Pacers during the 2nd half at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 30, 2019.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
TJ McConnell, right, of the Indiana Pacers stops to huf Coach Brett Brown of the Sixers as he enters the game during the 1st half at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 30, 2019.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Former Sixer TJ McConnell of Indiana Pacers yells out after making a jump shot against the Sixers during the 1st half at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 30, 2019.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
TJ McConnell, left, of the Indiana Pacers and Raul Neto of the Sixers go after a loose ball during the 1st half at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 30, 2019.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Former Sixer TJ McConnell, center, of the Indiana Pacersis trapped between Raul Neto, left, and Al Horford of the Sixers during the 1st half at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 30, 2019.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Ben Simmons, 3rd from left, of the Sixers scores against Malcolm Brogdon, left, Domantas Salbonis, and Goga Bitadze, right, during the 1st half at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 30, 2019.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Ben Simmons, right, of the Sixers scores over Jeremy Lamb of the Pacers during the 1st half at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 30, 2019.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Domantas Sabonis, left, of the Indiana Pacers has his shot blocked by Joel Embiid of the Sixers during the 1st half at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 30, 2019.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Joel Embiid, right, of the Sixers loses the ball while guarded by Domantas Sabonis of the Pacers during the 1st half at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 30, 2019.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Aaron Holiday, left, and Domantas Sabonis, right, of the Indiana Pacers battle Furkan Korkmaz of the Sixers for a loose ball during the 1st half at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 30, 2019.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Joel Embiid, left, of the Sixers shoots over Justin Holiday of the Pacers during the 1st half at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 30, 2019.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Domantas Sabonis, left, of the Indiana Pacers has his shot blocked by Ben Simmons of the Sixers during the 3rd quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 30, 2019.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Malcolm Brogdon, left, of the Indiana Pacers steals the ball from Mike Scott of the Sixers during the 3rd quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 30, 2019.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Doug McDermott, left, of the Indiana Pacers and Tobias Harris of the Sixers go after a loose ball during the 1st half at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 30, 2019.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Tobias Harris makes a breakaway dunk to give the Sixers the lead against the Pacers during the 4th quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 30, 2019.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Tobias Harris, center, of the Sixers makes the dunk that gave the Sixers the lead against the Pacers during the 4th quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 30, 2019.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Tobias Harris, right, of the Sixers celebrates after making the go ahead basket on a dunk against the Pacers during the 4th quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 30, 2019. Malcolm Brogdon of the Pacers is left.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Tobias Harris, right, of the Sixers celebrates win Joel Embiid, left, and Ben Simmons, center, after the dunk that gave the Sixers the lead against the Pacers during the 4th quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on Nov. 30, 2019.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Tobias Harris was clutch
Harris is becoming more comfortable being a go-to player, especially in crunch time. Harris has done a better job recently of getting his shot off the dribble. At 6-9, he is often shooting over smaller players, and he is squaring up confidently when taking the shot.
Weak defense
The Sixers looked like they could apply the knockout punch in the first half when they owned a 15-point lead midway through the second quarter. Indiana had played the previous night at home, beating Atlanta, and it looked like the Pacers were ready to break. Indiana, however, got back in the game by taking advantage of the Sixers’ weak transition defense. The Pacers outscored the Sixers during the first half in fast break points, 12-6.
Uncontested threes
Indiana got to take advantage of shooting several uncontested threes. The Sixers would collapse on the ball hander and then leave an open player, often in the corner. An example came in the fourth quarter when former Sixers point guard T.J McConnell drew two defenders and hit Justin Holiday for a wide-open corner three that gave the Pacers a 99-97 lead.
Include the Pacers
When the contenders are mentioned in the Eastern Conference, the list usually consists of Milwaukee, the Sixers and Boston. Indiana should be included in this list. This is a team the is proficient shooting the three (although entering the game, the Pacers were shooting 35.6 percent), has great ball movement and is unselfish. They didn’t really have an answer for Embiid inside, but few teams do.
