The Philadelphia 76ers took on the Miami Heat in their third game of the Las Vegas Summer League on Wednesday.
The ending was largely riddled with blunders in execution, but the Sixers got 16 points and 4 assists from free agent signee Trevelin Queen. Malik Ellison also recorded a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double for Philadelphia.
Miami made a late push to get back in the game and put some pressure on the Sixers, but it was ultimately too little, too late for the Heat. The Sixers secured their first victory in Vegas with a late break-away dunk from Queen.
Here are some observations from the victory.
Charles Bassey
Bassey’s three-point shot from the top of the arc marked consecutive games in which the second-year big man stepped away from the rim for jumpers. He was off the mark, but the shooting motion was repeatable and the ball was reasonably in line with the basket.
It’s important to avoid homogeneity with your roster, but Bassey being comfortable stepping outside is unimpeachably a good thing. You might want a rim-runner behind the jump-shooting Joel Embiid. But most important is having versatility behind the superstar big man. You don’t want the Sixers to be married to only one style when Embiid checks out of games. If Bassey — or any other big the Sixers deploy in relief of Embiid — is capable of running 94 feet, screening and diving, and stepping out for a jumper every once in a while, Philadelphia is better for it.
Charlie Brown Jr.
On the topic of jump shots, and people whose long-form first names are “Charles”, Charlie Brown Jr. needs to fix his jumper. It’s a catapult from just above his right shoulder, and he practically loads the ball up behind his head. One would assume he’s comfortable with that mechanic, but it doesn’t fall with enough consistency at this level.
Mike Foster
Philadelphia’s undrafted free agent signee looked very comfortable after struggling to find a balance early in Summer League. He started play hunting his shot on every touch, mostly to poor results. Foster then toned it back quite a bit, going mostly silent over the next few games. But, you noticed him on Wednesday night.
Foster drilled a beautiful baseline fadeaway 15 feet from the basket in the first half, and then imposed his size backing a Miami defender down in the post before turning for a fader on which he was fouled.
Malik Ellison
Ellison had some beautiful baseline cuts in this game.
One of the most logical gripes you can have with Summer League is the homogeneity of the style of play. Most prospects chuck up shots in hopes of making statements as big-time scorers. That inherently means that very few are trying to prove that they can fit within a system — which is almost certain to be the role for which they’re hired at the next level.
Ellison didn’t put up outrageous numbers, but he played within the philosophies that the Sixers embody. Whether it was Cassius Winston or another ball-handler knifing around the Miami interior or a wide fill in transition before cutting to the basket in a 3-on-2 or 2-on-1, Ellison made instinctive and timely cuts to the rim.
It’s anyone’s best guess as to whether there’s a future in the NBA there, but Ellison is one of the few prospects who makes it easy to envision him in the program because he plays to the team’s concepts.
Tyler Bey
If you can predict the NBA future for Tyler Bey, you should pick up some lottery tickets. But, he’s got an NBA body. You see a bit of Matisse Thybulle in his frame and defensive prowess. The offensive skill, unfortunately, aligns with that of Thybulle, too.
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