Why Georges Niang is Sixers’ secret bench weapon
The Philadelphia 76ers wish to maximize their lineup mixtures as they pursue a championship. All of it begins with Joel Embiid and James Harden nevertheless it takes extra. The expertise round them has to reap the benefits of their expertise and influence the sport. Enter Georges Niang. Though the 6-foot-7 energy ahead is not very well-rounded and suffers from the inconsistency that almost all function gamers do, he has been nice off the bench for the Sixers this season.
With Embiid and Harden because the focal factors and Tobias Harris and P.J. Tucker as the important thing supportive defenders/shooters, the Sixers have tried each Tyrese Maxey and De’Anthony Melton off the bench. There are some new additions to combine in, too. As they appear to search out the fitting lineups, they will relaxation straightforward realizing that the seventh man of their rotation is solidified with Niang.
The box-score numbers are first rate — 8.8 factors, 2.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists per sport in 19.8 minutes — apart from his capturing effectivity. He shoots 57.5 % contained in the arc, 40.9 % from outdoors of it and 87.5 % from the free-throw line. Most of his field-goal makes an attempt — 77 % of them, to be actual — come from deep. His potential to mild it up from downtown on spot-up and relocation performs makes him one of many Sixers’ most essential gamers.
Georges Niang’s 3-point marksmanship and quantity have put him in uncommon firm. Up to now within the 2022-23 season, solely 19 different gamers have shot 40 % from deep and averaged two made 3-pointers per sport. Just one different participant has finished it whereas enjoying beneath 20 minutes per sport (and Sixers followers will looooove to listen to that it’s none aside from Isaiah Joe). Niang’s 119 triples are tied for the 40th most in the league and nobody within the prime 50 has performed beneath 1,100 minutes like he has.
The Sixers carry out very nicely within the minutes Niang performs. The staff’s internet score with him on the ground is among the best on the staff and his +/- is fourth on the team behind solely Embiid, Harris and Harden. Whereas he is principally used as a spot-up shooter, he has no issues placing the ball on the deck when the protection pursues too arduous or offers him a gap.
Georges Niang will get some buckets in a 1-on-1 drill at Sixers observe pic.twitter.com/vte92Urtif
— Sam DiGiovanni (@BySamDiGiovanni) February 7, 2023
On protection, he strikes his ft and contests photographs nicely. He’s not a lock-down participant however he is usually a optimistic contributor on that finish of the ground. Add in the truth that he is a ruthless trash talker and you haven’t solely an impactful participant however a fan favourite.
In a few of the Sixers’ greatest wins of the season — corresponding to Christmas Day vs. the New York Knicks and different enormous matchups vs. the Denver Nuggets and Sacramento Kings — Niang has supplied some extremely clutch capturing. In lineups with starters, he gives the kind of capturing that makes it very arduous to double Embiid or shade somebody over when he and James Harden get into their two-man sport.
There are some questions available about Georges Niang’s potential within the playoffs, although. Whereas his capturing is spectacular, his limitations as a defender and rebounder could hinder his potential to play for lengthy stretches. Nonetheless, he makes a really actual influence along with his vitality, floor-spacing excellence, defensive effort and sense of when to assault closeouts. With Niang coming off the Sixers’ books this offseason, the entrance workplace must make certain re-signing him is one among their priorities.
