Bigs Believe in BigsTake a quick glance at the box score from Monday's match-up between the 76ers and Miami Heat, and it would be hard not to notice the substantial output generated by the two massive men in the middle (both of whom happened to be wearing the number #21, as it turned out).Joel Embiid manufactured 22 points (7-13 fg, 1-2 3fg, 7-9 ft), five rebounds, and three blocked shots in 23 minutes. His counterpart, the 7-foot, 265-pound Hassan Whiteside, hammered out a career-high 32 points (13-19 fg, 6-8 ft), 13 boards, and two swats. Anyone thinking that the days of big men making an impact in the NBA are finished might want to check in with either of the starting centers from Monday's tilt.”You have the Cavs Okafor coming off the bench, it's a lot of great centers.”Whiteside, at the outset of his fifth NBA season, sounded as if he was most impressed with the connection and rapport that Embiid has developed with his team's fanbase in the relatively short period of time that he's played. “Philly loves that guy,” Whiteside said. “I've never seen excitement like that. They love that guy, they love that dude. I was amazed.”Monday marked Embiid's fifth outing with at least 20 points. He joins Jerry Stackhouse, Allen Iverson, and Jahlil Okafor as the only players in franchise history to post that many 20-point performances through 10 career appearances. Covington Rewards Brown's FaithNot surprisingly, perhaps, the sequence preceding what was arguably the most significant bucket of Robert Covington's season was triggered by defense.His efforts on that end of the floor, after all, represent the reason why Brett Brown has given Covington the “benefit of the doubt” in recent weeks, as the third-year swingman has fought to recapture his shooting touch. With about three minutes to go in Monday's fourth quarter, and the Sixers ahead by only two points, Covington fought over a Udonis Haslem screen while defending Goran Dragic. As Miami's speedy point guard drove from the perimeter to the lane, Covington used his typically active hands to poke the ball free.The steal, the first of three that would come before the end of Monday's game, yielded a half court opportunity that Covington capped by nailing a timely catch-and-shoot 3-pointer. The deposit gave the Sixers valuable insurance.
“Coach has been telling me just because your shots haven't been falling doesn't mean you can't impact the game in other ways,” said Covington. “Just the mentality that the next shot is going to be good. I have been in slumps before where I've never lost confidence in myself. I always feel my next shot is good.”Covington entered the evening in the midst of a 4 for 31 rut overall. During this stretch, he had gone 2 for 22 from 3-point territory.”All of us can only imagine where the last three, four games where every shot goes up, and there's oohs, and aahs, and he misses and he misses, and there's groans,” Brown said. “To stay with him, to encourage him, it was easy for me because he guards.”He also cleans the glass.Moments before Covington buried his lone triple in Monday's game, he snatched up a key defensive rebound, one of his season-high nine boards. He then punctuated the Sixers' ensuing set with a cutting reverse scoop shot. The field goal broke an 89-89 tie.”For him to guard and make that big shot and make that big lay-up, his last two shots were makes, is a great reward for him,” said Brown.And for a coach, who kept the faith.Luwawu-Cabarrot Stands Out for SevensFrom South Philadelphia to Newark, Delaware, Monday was a successful night for the Sixers organization. Shortly before the Sixers' victory over Miami went final, their NBA Development League affiliate, the Delaware 87ers, delivered an impressive comeback win.Trailing Greensboro by as many as 20 points, the Sevens kept chipping away, using a 33-point fourth quarter to overcome the Swarm. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, the 24th pick in this past June's draft, helped the cause. He was on loan from the Sixers, with whom he had played nine games and a total of 46 minutes. “To have Tim was a great help,” said Eugene Burroughs, the Sixers' former shooting coach who is now leading the Sevens. “It gave us another live body, an athlete that played hard. For him to make plays down the stretch will help him when he goes back to the Sixers when he's in the game late and executing a play. It was a big uplifting game for us.” Monday morning, Luwawu-Cabarrot participated in the Sixers' shootaround in Camden, New Jersey, then hopped in a car to take the short 50-minute ride to the Sevens' home game at Bob Carpenter Center. He supplied an efficient, well-rounded showing, cranking out 14 points (5-8 fg, 1-2 3fg, 3-3 ft), five rebounds, three assists, and two steals. “Just tried to be more unselfish player, and tried to get into the team step-by-step after I tried to step up on defense,” said Luwawu-Cabarrot, who admitted he felt a little “shy” heading into his Sevens debut, given he had never played a game with the team before.The 21-year old was on the hardwood Monday for 28 minutes, the second-highest total among his teammates. “That was a long time ago that I play a lot like that in a game,” he said. “I felt great.”
Monday's assignment to the Sevens reunited Luwawu-Cabarrot with Shawn Long and James Webb III. The two prospects, like Luwawu-Cabarrot, were part of the Sixers' summer league roster, and loomed large in the Sevens' second victory of the season. Webb III's dunk with two minutes to go in the final period gave Delaware its first lead, while Long used an alley-oop dunk to add insurance on the team's next possession. Webb III then connected on a triple with 23.4 seconds left to put the game out of reach.”I think Shaun did a great game, James Webb had a crucial shot at the end,” said Luwawu-Cabarrot. Long erupted for 30 points, and Webb III provided his second straight double-double, with 17 points and 11 boards. “They were two key players. That was a really team win. I'm really happy for them that they had a great game.” Despite being in somewhat new surroundings, Luwawu-Cabarrot felt at home.”The players were great, really nice with me, so that was great. I would be happy to come back and play and get some minutes.”
