STAR OF THE WEEK: 3/19 – 3/25

Robert Covington, Nik Stauskas, Richaun Holmes & Dario Saric
This week’s star(s) are comprised of four players whose effort far exceeds their talent. Nik “I’m not good enough to have a nickname” Stauskas, Richaun Holmes, Robert Covington and Dario Saric are this week’s winners. These four have played through everything from restricted minutes to playing out of position, and somehow managed to do it all while never complaining publicly.

The week opened up with a 105 – 99 win against the hated Boston Celtics, thanks to a strong effort from “the Process” poster child Robert Covington. The small forward registered a +18 performance as he tallied 16 points and seven rebounds. Covington would hit a huge three pointer with 3:41 left in the fourth quarter to put Philly ahead for good at 94 – 91.

Despite receiving double-doubles from athletic big man Richaun Holmes (24 points, 14 rebounds), the sporadic T.J. McConnell (16 points, 10 assists) and the aforementioned Covington (24 rebounds, 13 rebounds) Philly would lose on the road to the Orlando Magic (112 – 109). That “L” was followed up by another road loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder (122 – 97). In a losing effort it was guard Nik Stauskas time to shine with a team high 20 points.

The week ended with a rare 117 – 107 road win against the Chicago Bulls. With the Bulls’ All-Star Jimmy Butler on the floor it was Saric who stole the show. The EuroLeague star notched a team high 32 points to go with 10 rebounds.  
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STAT OF THE WEEK:

Long-ing for an Opportunity
Shawn Long’s story is no different than the millions, or better yet scillions, of young ballers throughout the world who dream of hooping in the NBA. On a roster filled with a group playing for their collective NBA lives the newly acquired forward has found a way to appear hungrier.

Long seems to have nestled into his role well and even had an 18 point explosion in Chicago against the Bulls. Philadelphia is playing out the string of their remaining games, but the Louisana native’s hustle has not gone has not been for not. The reserves play and most certainly has secured him an invite to an NBA training camp next year.  
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THIS WEEK IN 1982 – 83 (THE CHAMPIONSHIP YEAR):

King-ed  
This week witnessed the Sixers win two games by a total of five points, and lose two games by an average of 11 points. In a 121 – 119 road win it was Andrew Toney who picked up the slack, filling in for an injured Dr. J. The guard dropped 39 points as Philly escaped with a two point victory. Unfortunately, the momentum did not carry over to the Big Apple.

The 76ers lost their first of two games this week to teams led by the Kings. The New York Knicks opened up the game with a 33 – 14 first quarter lead, then followed a scorching Bernard King to the win. King would shoot a blistering 16-for-18 on his way to 33 points. The 37 – 31 New York crew walked away with a convincing 89 – 76 victory.

The Sixers needed 25 points and 14 rebounds from center Moses Malone and overtime to defeat the visiting Milwaukee Bucks 104 – 101. Then the second King, this one being Albert, came to Philly and handed the 76ers their second loss of the week.

Playing without Bobby Jones and Julius Erving, the Sixers failed to have a player score 20 or more points for the second time this week (the first was in a loss against the Knicks). Philadelphia also saw their streak of 24 straight home wins snapped. The New Jersey Nets were paced by Buck Williams (24 point, 19 rebounds) and Albert King (22 points, nine rebounds) in the 101 – 92 win.   
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TWEET OF THE WEEK: 

MASSIVE REBOUND #YoHolmes

— Arie & Al (@OfficialReview) March 19, 2017