PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Typically, a Sixers win over the lowly Chicago Bulls isn’t anything too impressive. But, that wasn’t the case this time around.
The Joel Embiid-less and Ben Simmons-less 76ers tipped off the second half of their season by dominating the Bulls on the road 127-105. Embiid and Simmons couldn’t play because of COVID-19 health and safety protocols. They came in close contact with someone who tested positive for the coronavirus, and they have been quarantining all week.
Third-string center, 23-year-old Tony Bradley, who seldom plays, stepped into the starting lineup for Embiid and scored 14 points on a perfect seven of seven from the floor.
During the game, Embiid jokingly tweeted, in part, “Build around Tony Bradley.”
“For him to have that support and for him to say that is funny, especially coming from Joel,” Bradley said with a laugh. “So, I appreciate it.”
A reporter mentioned the tweet to head coach Doc Rivers, and asked him what it means to him that Embiid is watching the game even though he was sidelined, and is also supporting someone who usually doesn’t get minutes.
“Number one, he better be watching the game — him and Ben — because that’s their jobs,” Rivers said in a humorous moment. “Number two, I love the support.”
This is 6-foot-10 Bradley’s first season with the Sixers. Rivers revealed Bradley has dropped 25 pounds as the season has gone on. He was acquired in a trade for Zhaire Smith. Before Thursday night, he only played in 12 of the Sixers' 36 games. Rivers inserting Bradley into the starting lineup when Embiid isn’t available allows him to bring 35-year-old backup center Dwight Howard off the bench in his normal role.
“Tony Bradley, I’ll call him The Battery Pack,” Howard, who scored 18 points with 12 rebounds Thursday, said postgame. “He had his battery pack on tonight. He was the Energizer Bunny.”
“I just wanted to from the jump just bring energy and effort,” Bradley said.
When asked if he felt like Embiid, as he was in rhythm throughout the night, Bradley admitted, “Joel plays the same way, I guess. Everything falls. All the shots fall for him, so I guess I did. I guess I did feel like Joel.”
Embiid is having an MVP season. Must be nice to feel like one of basketball’s best.