Preseason Bell Ringer rankings:
Jaylen Brown – 1
LeBron James – 1
The Sixers got off to a 10-2 start against the Celtics, but things looked bleak by halftime.
The Sixers were without Joel Embiid, Jaylen Brown, LeBron James, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope due to rest. Dominick Barlow (back), Anfernee Simons (hamstring), Adem Bona (foot) and Tacko Fall (hip) are still nursing injuries.
We saw flashes of the Vj-Maxx connection early in the first, as Tyrese Maxey fed VJ Edgecombe for a transition finish and corner
three. Amidst the Celtics’ barrage, and Sixers lenient defense, there were Bell Ringer-worthy performances.
VJ Edgecombe: 19 points, 6-of-11 FG, 2-of-5 3PT, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 turnovers
Edgecombe got the three to fall quickly after going 0-for-2 on Thursday and was cooking Payton Pritchard on multiple occasions.
He blazed past him on a drive just seconds into the second quarter. A few minutes later, Edgecombe took Pritchard in the post with a beautiful fadeaway baseline jumper.
He is looking more comfortable finishing through contact and strong at the rim.
Jabari Walker: 14 points, 6-of-11 FG, 2-of-7 3PT, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 turnover
Walker looked great in all facets, and is earning himself more minutes this preseason. He battled on the offensive glass and created an easy oppurtunity for himself early.
He showcased an ability to create offense and make quick decisions with a nice pass to a cutting Dean Wade during the Sixers’ 10-2 run to begin the game.
Honorable Mentions
Labaron Philon Jr.: 14 points, 5-of-13 FG, 4-of-8 3PT, 7 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal
Philon’s shot looks very good, but the question will be if he can survive defensively. The rookie showcased his playmaking potential all night including a smooth bounce pass to Walker in the third.
Dean Wade: 5 points, 2-of-4 FG, 1-of-3 3PT, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover
It may be hard to imagine given the star-studded roster, but Wade will be a fan-favorite by the end of the year. He does all of the little things — sets solid screens, hits the three, can battle in the post, and was fighting for rebounds with Celtics that were considerably taller than him.
