The Sixers are on a season high five-game winning streak after outlasting the Hornets 118-114 in Charlotte. It wasn't pretty. There were 22 lead changes and Charlotte came very close to tying the game in the closing seconds, but Jeremy Lamb's layup attempt rimmed out.
The Sixers are a season high 21 games over .500 and they're 2.5 games ahead of the Pacers for third place in the East after Indiana lost at the Clippers.
The 76ers escaped without the service of Joel Embiid, who didn't play due to load management. He'll be back for tonight's massive game against the Celtics at Wells Fargo Center.
Here are my observations from win No. 46.
The Importance of JJ Redick
Embiid may be the Sixers "crown jewel," but when JJ Redick is on point, it feels like the 76ers rarely lose. Redick drilled seven three-pointers, scoring 27 points, while grabbing a career-high 10 rebounds. He was two assists shy of a triple-double.
"10 rebounds, I never thought the day would come" --JJ Redick caught up with @SerenaWinters after the game to talk about his big night, new career high, and the big challenge tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/fpYmhe4342
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) March 20, 2019Redick has picked it up lately, but he was in a significant slump prior to that, one that coincided with Embiid's eight-game absence due to knee soreness. The Sixers lost three out of four by the end of that stretch.
He may seem like the least important guy when it comes to the Sixers revamped starting five, but that's an understatement. If Redick isn't making clutch, open shots, the Sixers are probably struggling.
Butler's Assertiveness Continues
The weather is getting warmer and Jimmy Butler is looking like the player fans are expecting to see.
In all seriousness though, Butler scored 23 points against the Hornets on eight-of-19 from the floor, tying Redick for the most shots taken by a Sixer in the victory. Butler has scored at least 20 points in three games in a row and six out of the last nine.
If the Sixers are going to go far in the playoffs, Butler needs to be more than just a closer. He needs to be offensively active for the entire game.
James Ennis Was The Bench, Literally
The 76ers bench was outscored 61-14. Yikes.
One of the reasons for that was Kemba Walker picked up three fouls midway through the first quarter. But, there still shouldn't be that much of a difference.
All 14 of those points were scored by James Ennis, who played really well in 22 minutes. He's proven to be one of the more reliable reserves for Brett Brown at this point in the season, and clearly won Brown's "tournament" to see who would get minutes off the bench after the trade deadline.
The most impressive part of Ennis' night was the huge three-pointer he drilled down the stretch to build a 115-111 lead.
Simmons Blossoming
Ben Simmons led the Sixers with 28 points on 11-of-12 from the floor. He also added his usual full box score of eight rebounds and five assists.
For as much criticism as Simmons gets for not being a jump shooter, and I'm contribute to that criticism, you can't deny he's growing as a player. There's no reason to worry about how effective he'll be in the playoffs, especially if the Sixers face the Celtics.
Massive Game Tonight in South Philadelphia
Speaking of the Celtics, they invade Wells Fargo Center tonight, trying to sweep the season series. The Sixers are 2-10 against the Celtics, including the playoffs, since the beginning of last season.
They need to put that to rest tonight because regardless of what seeding the Sixers finishing with, they must prove they can beat these guys.
It should be an incredible environment tonight in South Philly.
