PHILADELPHIA–The Philadelphia 76ers have been working on making sure that Jalen McDaniels is comfortable as they prepare to make what they hope will be a deep playoff run and they are beginning to see the fruits of the trade they made at the deadline.
Before the Sixers saw McDaniels score 24 points with 11 rebounds in a shocking road win over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, they were beginning to see the athletic wing out of San Diego State find his niche.
In Thursday’s home finale loss to the Miami Heat, McDaniels was one of the lone bright spots as he had 10 points and he knocked down two triples.
“He’s just getting more comfortable,” Rivers said after that loss to the Heat of McDaniels. “So we kept him out there the entire—that was part of the plan. Let him burn as many minutes as he can because he still doesn’t know all our stuff. Today (Thursday) when we were running our zone offense, he’s not comfortable in that. So I just thought playing him and keeping them out there was good for him.”
McDaniels has caught the attention of his teammates as they continue to push forward with their title plans. The Sixers have been in need of somebody athletic like him who he can bring that aspect to the floor and be able to knock down some jumpers as well.
“He’s been awesome,” added Georges Niang. “I think he’s been great since he got here. He brings a different dynamic for us. A long, athletic wing. Like I said, he’s feeling more comfortable and doing more things out there. So he’s been great for us.”
The Sixers will finish the season on Sunday against the Brooklyn Nets.
Related
Doc Rivers heaps praise on Jaden Springer after Sixers beat Hawks in OT
Player grades: Jalen McDaniels, bench leads Sixers past Hawks in OT
Sixers will officially face Nets in Round 1 after Heat fell to Wizards
Story originally appeared on Sixers Wire
