Sixers Bell Ringer: Game 36 - Pacers smoke Sixers to close out 2019

For a refresher on our Bell Ringer series, take a look back at our first post of the season.

Bell Ringer Standings

Tobias Harris - 8
Joel Embiid - 8
Ben Simmons - 7
Josh Richardson - 6
Matisse Thybulle - 3
Furkan Korkmaz - 1
Al Horford - 1
James Ennis - 1

With Joel “The Process” Embiid out with left knee soreness, the hundreds of Rights to Ricky Sanchez fans who traveled to Indiana had to make due with only watching one member of the Sixers’ original Process “Core Four”. Unfortunately, T.J. McConnell’s new team performed far better than his old one on the afternoon. McConnell (11 points, 10 assists) was a key spark in Indiana’s 24-5 run to start the second quarter, a downhill snowball that didn’t stop until the Pacers eventually led by 36 points. Let’s end 2019 on a consistent note and choose a Bell Ringer from this 115-97 Sixers defeat.

Josh Richardson: 20 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 1 block, 1 turnover

J-Rich was one of the very few Sixers playing up to his usual level of production. He got off to a hot start in the first quarter, finishing the period with seven points and two steals, including a beautiful read to intercept a Pacers pass and race down for a slam. Throughout the game, Richardson worked his way in for comfortable mid-range jumpers or points around the basket. He shot 7-of-14 from the field and 5-of-5 from the foul line. Impressively, Josh was still playing hard well past the point of no return, fighting his way in for a tough three-point play and then blocking a corner 3 on the next possession late in the third quarter.

Ben Simmons: 18 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 block, 6 turnovers

Today was far from Ben’s most effective game — the six turnovers would speak to that fact. But he was one of the only Sixers that had showed any fire during this blown raspberry of a game. Simmons was aggressive in getting to the rim, whether he was controlling a lob from Josh Richardson in mid-air enough to shove it down through the cylinder, or driving himself and getting to the foul line (6-of-8 from the charity stripe for the game). He was at least trying defensively, communicating switches and leaping to break up an Indiana lob pass. I would probably need a second hand to count the number of times Ben threw his hands up in frustration after he would stymie the initial attack, only for a rotation or boxout to be missed elsewhere.

Shake Milton: 8 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 turnover

It can’t be all Frosty Freeze Out celebrations when Shake is up with the big club. At least one silver lining of getting blown out is taking a longer look at guys like him. Sure, it was in mostly meaningless minutes mainly against the deep bench of the Pacers, but it was good to see Shake get his most minutes in over a month (16) and his most points since back on October 28. Milton started off the scoring in the fourth quarter with a 3 from the corner, and had a pair of nice drives, one to earn a trip to the line and one he finished with a smooth finger-roll.

Kyle O’Quinn: 4 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 blocks, 1 turnover

Getting the start in place of Embiid, most of O’Quinn’s stats came well after the game had been decided, but he actually had an even plus/minus in his seven first-half minutes, so he’s pretty far down on the blame totem pole. O’Quinn showed off his keen eye for cutters and open teammates, tying the team-high for assists on the afternoon, and had a rugged block of Domantas Sabonis under the hoop. Good effort, Kyle, but hope we don’t have to see you out there nearly this much next game!