Sixers Bell Ringer: Game 9

For a refresher on what constitutes a Bell Ringer, please reference the initial post.

Bell Ringer Season Standings: Joel Embiid - 3; JJ Redick - 2; Ben Simmons - 2; Robert Covington - 1.

Behind Joel Embiid’s 24 first-half points, the Sixers had their highest-scoring half of the season to take a 72-57 lead heading into the locker room. However, the Clippers came back to take the lead in the third quarter. Fortunately for the home crowd, a Markelle Fultz-led surge put the Sixers back in front and Embiid brought home the victory down the stretch. Here are your Bell Ringer candidates for Thursday night:

Joel Embiid: 41 points, 13 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 blocks

Embiid might have put his hand up to his ear, as the big man recorded the Sixers’ first 40-point game at home since Allen Iverson dropped 46 in 2006. Embiid was hot from the outside early on, rendering the lumbering Marcin Gortat useless. He then moved on to devouring the 6’8” Montrezl Harrell down low, eventually also throwing in another long jumper in as well; Harrell immediately looked to the Clippers bench as if to say, “What am I supposed to do?”

The Clippers started Boban Marjanovic in the second half, who camped in the lane and dared Embiid to shoot from the outside. JoJo went cold for a stretch, but eventually hit a few shots and finished with some absolutely hellacious dunks on Boban to cap off the night. Embiid also played his usual outstanding defense, both in the pick-and-roll and at the rim. I don’t think Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will ever try a left-handed scoop shot against Embiid again.

Markelle Fultz: 12 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal

“You just felt the building change. You felt our team’s mood change.”

The above quote comes from Brett Brown, discussing Markelle Fultz’s impact on the game. As good as Joel Embiid was, the Sixers may not have won this game if not for the second-year point guard. The team was floundering when Fultz re-entered the game in the third game, and immediately began an all-out assault on the rim. It was as confident as I’ve seen him attack the basket as a Sixer, and it led to high-percentage buckets and smart decisions to find teammates around the perimeter. Brown was also very complimentary of Fultz’s defense after the game. That wonderful stat line came in just 21 minutes. Easily Markelle’s best game of the year.

Robert Covington: 10 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 4 steals, 3 blocks

The above tweet sums up Covington’s night well, and I can attest the Sixers forward was also everywhere even when Mr. Devine wasn’t watching. RoCo played incredible off-ball defense, getting his hands into everything. I don’t understand how he’s so good at knocking the ball out of someone’s hands after they come down with a rebound. He also had an incredibly efficient offensive night, shooting 4-5 from the field and 2-2 from behind the arc. The perfect glue guy night for Lord Covington.

Ben Simmons: 14 points, 3 rebounds, 11 assists, 1 steal

Simmons was excellent in the first half to help the Sixers build their big lead. He knocked down a couple mid-range jumpers, which prompted Brett Brown to say after the game, “Where’s Howard [Eskin]? Howard would be thrilled.” He also did a great job pushing the ball and setting up his teammates for open looks in transition. An 11:2 assist-to-turnover ratio was a much-needed bounce-back after the debacle in Toronto.

Landry Shamet: 13 points, 1 rebound, 1 steal

Hey, it’s a Sixers late first-round pick that might stick around! Shamet looks more comfortable with each passing game, shooting 5-8 from the field and 3-6 from three-point land against the Clippers. There was a sequence in the first quarter where Shamet and JJ Redick were in the game together and hit consecutive threes. I don’t know how opposing teams can defend two guys capable of coming off dribble-handoff actions like this: