Snapshot:
Ten minutes into Thursday night’s game at The Center, the 76ers (4-34) found themselves in a favorable spot, having built up a 21-15 lead over one of the top four teams in the Eastern Conference. The Atlanta Hawks (22-15), however, closed the frame by firing off seven straight points, building the foundation for a game-changing burst. Scoring 25 of the next 28 points, Atlanta secured firm control of the contest, and didn’t let go, delivering a 126-98 victory over the Sixers. In addressing the media before tip-off, Brett Brown stressed that his team needed to be on alert against an Atlanta squad that entered the evening ranked first in the NBA in points scored off turnovers per game. That distinction ultimately bore itself out in critical fashion, as the Hawks generated a season-best 18 steals, and forced the Sixers into 22 giveaways overall. Those miscues led directly to 29 points for Atlanta. The Hawks proved to be a force offensively as well, sinking 41 of their final 69 shots, after managing just eight buckets in the opening quarter. Jahlil Okafor put together the Sixers’ top offensive showing, netting 21 points (9-16 fg). The third overall selection in this past June’s NBA Draft, Okafor continues to pace the rookie class in 20-point performances, having now raised his total to 14. Nerlens Noel, making his second straight start alongside Okafor, matched a season-best with 13 rebounds. He also had nine points. Ish Smith manufactured 12 points (6-10) and seven assists. Top Moment:
When talking about the ideal traits he wants to see from the Sixers’ offense, Brett Brown frequently cites the notion of “good-to-great” passing. The concept was one mastered by the San Antonio Spurs when Brown was an assistant coach for the club. Having witnessed Atlanta erupt for a 25-3 surge that bridged the first and second quarters, the Sixers were searching for a sequence to stem the tide. Nerlens Noel initiated a fast break with one of his two steals, and then made a selfless extra pass to a cutting Jahlil Okafor, who delivered his most emphatic field goal of the contest. “Good-to-great” the Sixers went on that particular play. http://www.csnphilly.com/video_content_type/beautiful-ball-movement-leads-okafor-slam-0?guid=xP__N3mNH1_EQCyiV93SeSa7w4qL4_BY&t=12Brett Brown Said – On the progress the Atlanta Hawks have made under third-year head coach Mike Budenholzer, who served with Brown as a San Antonio Spurs assistant coach under Gregg Popovich:
“They’re elite. I think it starts with the mentality ‘this is who we’re going to be.’ I think he’s done a great job of growing that side of the program. I think having people that shoot the ball like they shoot the ball at the end of the pass helps. But in general, I think the mentality they’ve grown their program with is the difference.”Notes and Quotes:
Thursday’s contest paired up Elton Brand’s current team with the one for which he had most recently played. Brand signed with Atlanta in July 2013, and went on to appear in 109 games for the Hawks over the past two campaigns, both of which were playoff seasons. Of note, his tenure with the Hawks coincided with the beginning of Mike Budenholzer’s head coaching career. “It’s hard to put into words,” said Budenholzer of the impact Brand had during his stint in Atlanta. “He was, I think, invaluable to our growth, and building the culture and hopefully the team and unselfishness that we’re trying to play with every night and practice with, and carry throughout every day. He was invaluable to me. I think everybody talks about him mentoring players, which I think he’s going to be amazing in that way. I think what he did for me personally as a coach is hard to put into words. He helped me learn and grow as a first-time head coach in ways that I will appreciate forever. I love the guy.”When asked whether or not he was surprised to learn that Brand had decided to come out of a brief retirement to contribute to the Sixers, Budenholzer responded, “Yes and no. I think he has so much to give, and he has so much where I think he can make a difference in an organization’s path, and a player’s path. To see him kind of taking that opportunity to give and to mentor and to change, and to make a difference, that’s what he does. That’s who he is.”The Sixers brought Brand back to the organization on Monday via a free agent contract. He and another former Sixer, Kyle Korver, linked up as teammates with the Hawks. Korver spoke highlighly of the presence Brand added to Atlanta’s roster. “The best,” Korver said in describing Brand. “I told Elton someday when I’m older, and people talk about teammates, and who the greatest teammate ever was, and who the best example I’ve ever been around, from every standpoint, professionalism, how he approaches the game, how he approaches the team concept, it’s going to be him. He’s a great person. Stands for the right things. He works incredibly hard, and he’s done a lot in his career. So he has the platform and the respect of a lot of people.”Korver felt Brand is “perfect for this role” he now has with the Sixers. Brand didn’t suit up against Atlanta, but indicated prior to tip-off that he hopes to be available for game action within the next two weeks.
The men’s basketball program at Wake Forest University has sent 28 players to the NBA, seven of which are still active. Of those seven active players, two squared off as point guard counterparts on Thursday. Ish Smith spent four years with the Demon Deacons, from 2006 through 2010. Atlanta’s Jeff Teague was in Winston-Salem, NC for Smith’s sophomore and junior seasons. At the Hawks’ shoot-around Thursday morning, Teague spoke with pride about having the chance to go up against his former college backcourt partner.”It means a lot, especially him being a teammate, and playing with him, and seeing how hard he worked, and everything he’s done to get to where he is now. I’m happy for him,” said Teague. He feels Smith is a good fit on Brett Brown’s Sixers. “He’s a guy that needs the ball in his hands, and he can make a lot of things happens,” Teague said. “I think Coach puts the ball in his hands and let him be effective on the floor. They run a lot of pick and rolls, and they play an uptempo style, and it fits him perfect.”Teague made his first All-Star Game appearance last season, when Atlanta set a franchise record with 80 victories. Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul and San Antonio Spurs big man Tim Duncan are two other Wake Forest products still in the league who have also earned All-Star Game selections. Smith posted 12 points, seven assists, and four turnovers against Teague’s Hawks. Teague, meanwhile, scored seven points, had four assists, and committed three turnovers.
Seeking out of veteran insight has been a theme that’s emerged for the Sixers over the past month, whether it be through the team adding Jerry Colangelo to the front office, Mike D’Antoni to Brett Brown’s bench, or players such as Ish Smith and Elton Brand to the club’s roster. Another sign of this trend continuing surfaced Thursday.Before the Sixers began their on-court pre-game warm-ups, former NBA swingman Shane Battier was spotted on the court at The Center. He had met with President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Sam Hinkie earlier in the day, and attended the game as a guest of the Sixers.”It’s not about playing at all,” said Brett Brown, when asked to explain the purpose of Battier’s visit. Battier was last in uniform during the 2013-2014 season, when he suited up for the Miami Heat. “It’s about reaching out to basketball people, and trying to grow our organization. It’s that. Elton [Brand] has come in with that same flavor, but we still feel like we can get something maybe out of him in a different capacity from time on a court, most definitely in a lockerroom, or pre-practice, or on a bus, or a plane. Having [Battier] here is not that. It’s reaching out to basketball people and picking their brain, and seeing if there may be some type of connection now or down the road.” Battier logged 13 years in the NBA. He was originally taken sixth overall in the 2001 NBA Draft. He was tabbed the Associated Press NCAA Division I Player of the Year in his senior campaign at Duke. That season, the Blue Devils won the national championship. Battier also clinched two NBA titles in 2012 and 2013.
Next Up:
The Sixers reach the halfway point of their six-game homestand Saturday, beginning a back-to-back set with a 7:30 PM EST contest against the Toronto Raptors (22-15). Toronto will be winding down a season-high-tying five-game road trip, making its second-to-last appearance on the trek. After dropping consecutive outings earlier this week, the Atlantic Division-leading Raptors responded by downing the Brooklyn Nets, 91-74, on Wednesday. Toronto is currently attempting to get by without forward DeMarre Carroll, one of this past off-season’s marquee free agent acquisitions. Carroll, coming off a breakout two-season stretch with the Atlanta Hawks, had missed 11 of Toronto’s previous 16 games before deciding to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Wednesday. He had been generating 11.7 points and 4.8 rebounds in 32.0 minutes per tilt. DeMar DeRozan tops the Raptors with 22.6 points per game, while Kyle Lowry accounts for 20.6 points and 6.5 assists. Lowry was an All-Star a year ago.
