Sizing Up the Sixers (3-10):When the 76ers have enjoyed success in the early stages of the new NBA year, their bench has been an important factor.In Saturday's thorough 120-105 win over Phoenix, the Sixers' reserve corps cranked out a season-best 61 points. The group also produced 49 points in last Wednesday's victory versus Washington, and 47 points when the Sixers' beat Indiana on November 11th for their first win of the season.Nik Stauskas and Hollis Thompson, the team's minutes leaders among full-time second-stringers, have emerged as particularly vital contributors to a unit that averages 45.2 bench points per game, volume that's good for second-best in the NBA (the Sixers rank 12th in bench points per 100 possessions). Along the way, the two have come to embrace the way they're being used.”I had a conversation with Coach today,” Stauskas said after Sunday's practice, “and he said he liked the way my role is now, and I said I couldn't agree more. “I don't really want to start right now. I like playing with the second unit. I like coming in and being that spark off the bench.”And those words weren't just throwaway words. The confidence and assertiveness with which Stauskas has competed so far points to a level of sustained comfort he hadn't previously achieved at the NBA level.Heading into Monday's pairing with Miami, the 23-year old Canadian will be riding a streak of six straight games with at least 12 points. His shooting percentage during this stretch checks in at 66.0 percent overall, and 53.6 percent (15-28 3fg) from the perimeter. “A lot of times, all it is all you need is to see a couple shots to go in, and the basket just starts getting bigger, and your confidence starts to grow,” said Stauskas, who burst for a season-best 21 points Saturday. “Once I was able to put together a few solid offensive games, I just tried to build off that.”Now, I'm enjoying myself again, having fun out there, and I think that's when I'm most effective.”Like Stauskas, Thompson has never before generated points at rate higher than he is now. Mellow in disposition, and consistent with the focus he brings to the court, Thompson typically goes about his business in workmanlike fashion, with very little fanfare. Nonetheless, he's proven steady, not just this season, but throughout his four years in town. “I think maybe because he's been here the longest…and he's just been part of the 'furniture,' maybe people just don't notice him as much,” Brett Brown said Sunday. “But, he should be noticed. He's been an elite NBA 3-pointn percentage shooter for almost all his days here. I think his catch-go game, go-catch game attacking the rim has also improved. His defense is becoming better and better and better as well. That's why he sort of just doesn't go away.” Thompson went 3 for 5 from behind the 3-point line in Saturday's victory to finish with 14 points. He's now converted 40.5 percent (15 for 37) of triple attempts this year, and boasts a career 39.2 3-point percentage.Thompson is one of only 10 active players in the league to manufacture an efficiency that high while having taken at least 800 attempts. For the most part, he doesn't mind flying under the radar. “It is what it is,” he said. “To a degree, I like it, yeah. I'm a low key guy, but my focus is just kind of just getting better every day, working on my craft.”Moments like Saturday's convincing win against Phoenix are the ones, obviously, that the Sixers hope to experience more frequently as the campaign unfolds. Both Stauskas and Thompson are willing to assume whatever assignment necessary to improve the team's chances of turning in positive results.”At the end of the day, it's about winning games,” said Stauskas. “Guys like Jamal Crawford, Manu Ginobili, there's tons of guys throughout the league who have made an unbelievable career out of being that spark off the bench, so I don't have a problem with that.” When asked to identify a quality that defines the personality of this year's second group, Thompson answered, “Pride.””I think we come in, we play together,” he said. “I think the bench, we've kind of known each other for a little bit now, and we're hungry. We want to get better, we want to play hard, we want to show that we can play too.”To-date, they have.On the medical front, Joel Embiid is listed probable for Monday's tilt. He sustained a mild left ankle sprain last Thursday at Minnesota, but Saturday, played through whatever discomfort he was feeling, posting a career-high 26 points versus the Suns.Sizing Up the Heat (4-8):Without Dwyane Wade as part of the organization for the first time in 14 years, Miami tumbled out to a 2-8 start, before winning its past two games against Milwaukee and Washington, respectively. The Heat, true to form under head coach Erik Spoelstra, have been solid defensively. The offense, however, is seeking a jumpstart. As of Monday morning, Miami's 97.9 offensive rating ranked fourth-to-last in the NBA.Signed to a lucrative free agent deal this summer, big man Hassan Whiteside hasn't disappointed. He currently tops the league in offensive rebounds (60), total rebounds (194), and rebounds per game (16.2). The 7-foot, 265-pounder is third in blocks (33) and field goal percentage (60.6), and second among all players in defensive rating (91.9). Series History:The Sixers have suffered five straight losses to Miami, but last year's three-game series was competitive. The Heat won two games in South Florida by a margin of five points apiece, and earned a 10-point victory in the lone game between the clubs in South Philadelphia. Follow Along:
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