For a refresher on our Bell Ringer series, take a look back at our first post of the season.
Bell Ringer Standings
Ben Simmons - 16
Joel Embiid - 11
Tobias Harris - 10
Josh Richardson - 8
Furkan Korkmaz - 6
Matisse Thybulle - 3
Al Horford - 1
James Ennis - 1
Raul Neto - 1
Shake Milton - 1
We are all officially the dog in the “This is Fine” meme. Already without Ben Simmons for an indeterminate amount of time due to a nerve impingement in his back, the Sixers lost Joel Embiid late in the first quarter to what the team is calling a left shoulder sprain. With the team’s two stars unavailable, the rest of the roster was not able to pick up the slack. Philadelphia never led Wednesday night, falling behind by as many as 20 points in the second half in an eventual 108-94 loss to the Cavaliers. Let’s pick a Bell Ringer before worrying too deeply about this season going down in flames.
Shake Milton: 20 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 block, 0 turnovers
Getting his second start in place of Ben Simmons, Shake caught fire from the outside for the second time in the past three games. Milton shot 4-of-6 from downtown, including a deep look from a couple feet beyond the top of the arc towards the end of the shot clock in the fourth quarter. Shake also made a number of plays off the dribble, finishing in the paint with a floater and a turnaround jumper. One of the few silver linings of having stars go down is younger players getting to expand their games within a larger role. It’s encouraging to see Milton running with this opportunity.
.@SniperShake goin' coast to coast.
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) February 27, 2020
@NBCSPhilly pic.twitter.com/XexhZX9El4
Alec Burks: 13 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 turnover
Burks certainly brings a skill set unavailable to the rest of the Sixers’ roster, possessing the ability to beat his man and create something from nothing off the dribble. He finished the game 6-of-12 from the floor, with four of the buckets coming by his own play-making ability in isolation. On one play with Alec driving into the paint, he drew three defenders before feeding Kyle O’Quinn under the basket. Inside the final two minutes, Burks picked Collin Sexton’s pocket and raced off for the lay-in as part of the Sixers’ last-ditch attempt at a comeback, but it was sadly too little, too late.
Kyle O’Quinn: 6 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 blocks
Appearing in his first game since February 3, O’Quinn should be lauded for jumping right into the fray and bringing a fierce defensive intensity. The reserve center recorded four blocks, all coming in the third quarter, also chipping in a couple buckets and making a beautiful cross-court pass to Shake Milton for 3. Kyle more than did his part during his 12 minutes of playing time. If only the same could be said for many of his higher-profile teammates.
Poll
Who is the team’s Bell Ringer for the loss in Cleveland?
This poll is closed
-
88%
Shake Milton
-
2%
Alec Burks
-
9%
Kyle O’Quinn