For a refresher on our Bell Ringer series, take a look back at our first post of the season.
Bell Ringer Standings
Ben Simmons - 14
Tobias Harris - 9
Joel Embiid - 8
Josh Richardson - 8
Matisse Thybulle - 3
Furkan Korkmaz - 3
Al Horford - 1
James Ennis - 1
Following touching tributes to Philadelphia native Kobe Bryant in the pre-game proceedings and beginning of the game, the Sixers and Warriors continued on with the necessary business of the next game on the regular season schedule. With Joel Embiid returning to the lineup after missing just over three weeks due to finger surgery, the Sixers easily handled a Warriors team that sits with the worst record in the NBA. After Golden State briefly took the lead at 75-73 midway through the third quarter, the Sixers went on a quick 8-0 run and never looked back, securing a less-stressful-than-most 115-104 victory.
Raul Neto: 19 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 0 turnovers
With as well as Ben Simmons has been playing of late, it was hard to imagine a scenario where Brett Brown would voluntarily sit Ben for the last 15 minutes of the first half, but that’s exactly what happened thanks to the first-half brilliance of Raul Neto (and apparently, Simmons suggesting it to Brett). The Brazilian guard tallied all 19 of his points prior to halftime, shooting 7-of-8 from the field and 3-of-4 from 3.
Neto was a surgeon in the pick-and-roll, either pulling up behind the arc following the screen, or charging into the lane to finish around the rim with a finger roll or reverse. On both of his assists, he completely collapsed the defense around him in the paint, and then found a cutting James Ennis for a slam or a wide-open Joel Embiid at the top of the key. I don’t know where this performance came from, but there will be plenty more members in the Wolf Pack after seeing Raul do his thing tonight.
Neto: confirmed feelin' himself.
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) January 29, 2020
Give him 19 on the board. pic.twitter.com/M2mYIR4dgc
Joel Embiid: 24 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 5 turnovers
Embiid sported Number 24 in honor of Kobe, getting permission beforehand to wear the Sixers’ retired number from the great Bobby Jones. It was terrific to have the big man back on the court, even if there was some rust after the long layoff. A couple of Embiid’s five turnovers were very bad decisions in a crowd, something that’s tough to simulate before you’re fully back up to game speed. He did shoot 9-of-13 from the field, starting and ending his night with a pair of jumpers, so the finger couldn’t have been bothering him too much. On the final baseline fadeaway, Embiid said he yelled “Kobe” on the shot that gave him 24 points for the night.
Joel Embiid says he did indeed yell “Kobe” on this fade-away.
— Did the Sixers Win? (@DidTheSixersWin) January 29, 2020
His 24th and final points of the night while wearing #24 in honor of Kobe. pic.twitter.com/B8mZD1yMVx
Shake Milton: 11 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 turnovers
Another start, another solid outing for Shake Milton, who shot 5-of-6 from the field, including 1-of-2 from 3. Shake opened the game’s scoring with a silky fadeaway in the middle of the lane, and had a trio of acrobatic finishes around the rim off the bounce. He also threw a perfect alley-oop to Ben Simmons from the top of the key. It’s unfortunate Josh Richardson is out, but it’s encouraging to see these young wings step up with the additional opportunity.
SHAK3 AND BAK3 pic.twitter.com/nfz6SWJEyp
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) January 29, 2020
Tobias Harris: 14 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 turnovers
It was a quieter night than we typically see from Tobias, but he shot an efficient 6-of-10 from the field and made a couple nice passes in the pick-and-roll. Harris seemed to sense how poorly the Warriors were on transition defense, on multiple occasions simply pausing momentarily to allow a defender to relax before then streaking past him for an easy lay-in or dunk. Toss in a couple jumpers and floaters in the mid-range and it was your usual attack-from-any-angle kind of night for Tobi.
Poll
Who is your Bell Ringer for the win over the Warriors?
This poll is closed
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74%
Raul Neto
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23%
Joel Embiid
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1%
Shake Milton
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0%
Tobias Harris