Doc Rivers, Joel Embiid explain what Seth Curry is doing differently for Sixers
Philadelphia 76ers guard Seth Curry is a key piece of what the team does on the offensive end of the floor. He spaces the floor for the team, so the offense can flow, and, at the moment, he is the go-to guy from the perimeter.
Curry was massive in Wednesday’s win over the Chicago Bulls. He had 22 points, including a clutch basket late. He shot 9-for-14 from the floor, continuing his red-hot start that has helped the team start 6-2.
Curry is averaging 17.1 points while shooting 61.2% from the floor and 53.7% from deep in the first eight games, and coach Doc Rivers notices a little difference in his game.
“You know what he’s doing better, everybody knows who he is now and last year I thought if you got physical with him, they could take him off the ball and deny the catches,” said Rivers. “Now he’s being relentless in getting open and once he gets open with Joel (Embiid) coming, it’s a tough cover for anyone so we put them in that coverage.”
Curry’s ability to put the ball on the floor is exceedingly helpful for the offense. The Sixers have been in need of someone who can shoot and put the ball on the floor to create for others. His two-man game with Embiid has been huge for the offense. The big fella has built a relationship with Curry similar to his with JJ Redick early in his career.
“They’re two great players,” said Embiid. “I would say they’re different. No disrespect to my guy JJ, but he can create way more off the dribble than JJ could, and, obviously, the shot-making ability is out of this world for both of them. That’s something I’ve been looking for.”
The one season the Sixers had Josh Richardson between having Redick and Curry, it was a struggle at times on the offensive end for Embiid and the rest of the offense.
“Even talking to JJ, like, I ask him who does he think is gonna kind of play like him, up and coming guys,” Embiid added. “Try to find that partnership and relationship and obviously, we went out and got Seth and he’s been incredible and helping us offensively and defensively. It’s just been fun playing with him.”
In the past, Curry was known mostly just for shooting, but there has always been that skill of being able to put the ball on the floor and it has helped him get off to a great start to the season. It also helps that he is with the Sixers for the second straight season and he has been able to grow more under Rivers.
“Just keeping it simple, man,” Curry explained. “Just try to attack when I’ve got the ball and if I got an open shot, if not, if I draw two, just move it on to the next person, and play simple basketball.”
Curry and the Sixers will look to keep things going and continue to grow as a unit moving forward.
This post originally appeared on Sixers Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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