Loads of early intrigue for Sixers at middle behind Embiid

Loads of early intrigue for Sixers at middle behind Embiid initially appeared on NBC Sports activities Philadelphia

The Sixers’ beginning middle Monday evening acted like a stretch 5. Their 6-foot-8 backup middle, who’s often known as the “Dancing Bear,” shot 6 for six from the ground in his first NBA sport since Could 8, 2019.

Loads of intrigue for a preseason opener that Joel Embiid watched from the sidelines.

Andre Drummond took the opening soar ball for the Sixers and posted 11 factors and 7 rebounds of their 139-84 exhibition win over the New Zealand Breakers.

That form of stat line isn’t irregular for the 31-year-old huge man. Extra considerably, he made a nook three-pointer (and missed a top-of-the-key try, too).

Semi-regular three-pointers can be new for Drummond. He’s hit zero long-range pictures over the previous 4 seasons and his highest-volume 12 months was a 5-for-38 season with the Pistons in 2018-19.

Nonetheless, Sixers head coach Nick Nurse didn’t discuss Drummond’s jumpers as something alongside the strains of preseason silliness or innocent experimentation.

“He can shoot ‘em,” Nurse stated postgame. “He can shoot ‘em, so yeah, we’re engaged on ‘em for positive. I believe there’s moments the place you could find some house for him, in case you’re taking part in in opposition to a rim protector … however I believe he can shoot ‘em. From what I’ve recognized for some time, he’s much more expert than possibly he’s ever proven.

“He simply form of rebounds and arms the ball off on a regular basis, however he’s obtained some ball ability, he’s obtained some passing ability, he’s obtained some taking pictures ability that we’ll hold engaged on.”

Behind Drummond, Nurse turned to Guerschon Yabusele earlier than going to rookie Adem Bona within the second half.

Whereas Yabusele’s a pure energy ahead, he’d additionally frolicked taking part in middle over the prior week at coaching camp.

“I did work rather a lot on the 5, so I wasn’t stunned,” he stated. “Particularly with Joel not being (in), that’s one thing I used to be anticipating they usually informed me that earlier than. However I’ve been doing each. Typically I used to be additionally on the courtroom with Drum. I believe it’s attention-grabbing work for me to determine the the 2 roles. I believe I’ve to be able to play on the 5 in the course of the season.”

There’s many caveats to notice — preseason sport, non-NBA opponent, Tyrese Maxey the one energetic member of the staff’s star trio — however Yabusele carried out effectively in his first Sixers crack at middle. He teamed up very successfully with Kyle Lowry, who assisted Yabusele’s first three subject objectives. Lowry acknowledged when he had main dimension benefits by means of the Breakers’ pick-and-roll switching and transition cross-matches.

“He’s a terrific piece on our staff,” Yabusele stated of the six-time All-Star guard. “He’s been round a very long time. He’s a terrific passer and he understands issues much more than the opposite guys. So when he talks, we pay attention.

“After (my) first basket, he was telling me to at all times roll and he was going to seek out me. We form of created that connection at this time and I do know that’s one thing we are able to search for in the course of the season.”

The Sixers didn’t signal Yabusele till late in August following his spectacular Olympics for France, however Nurse seems to view the 28-year-old as a novel a part of his staff’s rotation.

Everybody can see he’s obtained extra agility and ability than the standard participant weighing roughly 270 kilos.

“I assumed he obtained himself into some actually good locations tonight,” Nurse stated. “Once they switched, he took ‘em proper in there. He’s fairly used to that. That’s form of the model they used him at with France and abroad. Once they swap a smaller man, he’s fairly broad to get round as effectively, so he can go down there, put up and rating. Let’s not get carried away; there’ll in all probability be some larger our bodies arising, so let’s see how he fares.

“However he made a few good strikes — confronted up, obtained to the entrance of the rim, shot. After which hitting the glass, rebounding. Can he care for the defensive rebounding? Can he pick-and-pop from time to time? … He did all of (that) tonight. Good first outing for him.”

No matter place he performs, Yabusele appreciates being again within the NBA eight years after he was drafted and 5 years after his final look with the Celtics.

“I’m not going to lie, it felt superb,” he stated. “It felt superb. And to get the win and for everyone on the staff to have the ability to carry out, it’s been a terrific evening. It’s been a protracted street, however I’m pleased to be right here.”