Patrick Beverley, a 76ers guard, slams an NBA star, citing a lack of maturity.

 

 

The Philadelphia 76ers have been one of the most successful teams early in the season, going 10-3 and defying all preseason expectations. However, there will always be individuals that fall short of expectations — and one club in particular has been going on a path laced with insulting variation chuckles.

The Washington Wizards, who are tied with the Detroit Pistons for the fewest number of wins with only a couple, have been a frequent sighting on social media for a variety of sporting reasons, one of which is their offseason acquisition, Jordan Poole, who has had a pretty disappointing start to his stint in DC.

Fans have rushed to jeer at his antics, which seem to happen virtually every night, but NBA players appear to be concerned about his perceived immaturity in the game. Of course, 76ers veteran Patrick Beverley is not a fan of Poole and his antics.

Patrick Beverley, a 76ers veteran, blasts Jordan Poole and the Wizards for their bad and juvenile play this season.

No logical person predicted that Washington would be a playoff contender this season, but considering that they have yet to commit to a genuine rebuild and still have established contributors in the league, expecting them to be competitive seemed reasonable. However, this has not been the case, and one may ask if the team really has a direction to follow.

With the current talent level, winning in the NBA is already difficult. It’s even more difficult when your nominal leader misses three-pointers, plays sluggish defense, and openly refuses to listen to team huddles.

On the latest episode of the Pat Bev Pod, Patrick Beverley, a no-nonsense person himself, didn’t mince words about Jordan Poole and the collective disaster that is Washington.

It is okay to lose because a team is too young (like the Pistons and Spurs are). But losing due of terrible habits on the basketball floor (like the Wizards have) is a sight to behold. Poole has already won a championship and a sizable purse, and his laid-back demeanor is the product of his complacency. After all, he has practically nothing to lose.

It doesn’t help matters that his co-spearhead is none other than Kyle Kuzma, another player who already has a ring and a big deal and is known for his pizzazz that well outweighs his on-court production.

This, fortunately, means that the Philadelphia 76ers should have no trouble playing the Washington Wizards. Even if they flirt with an upset, you can count on their so-called leaders to assist the opponent just by playing their game.

Unless they’re swapped.

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Darius Garland is not a system player, but he demonstrated that he is the Cavs’ system in their win over the Sixers.

 

 

Los Angeles Clippers guard James Harden famously stated shortly after leaving the Philadelphia 76ers that he isn’t a system player, but rather “the” system on offense. Harden slammed the Sixers for limiting his offensive powers as a previous MVP alongside reigning MVP Joel Embiid and rising star Tyrese Maxey. Whether or not Harden was correct about the Sixers making him a system player, the Sixers got a taste of what it’s like to be the offensive system when they faced the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Darius Garland, who has played a key role in Cleveland’s three-game winning streak, is that player for the Cavs. Garland had Cleveland moving in unison on offense from start to finish, performing as a maestro with his passing and a cold-blooded assassin with his scoring. However, Garland, like any good maestro or, more significantly, the Cavs’ offensive scheme, did not rush to the ultimate crescendo, instead killing Philadelphia slowly and methodically over a full game plus overtime.

Garland, who always begins methodically, ended the first quarter with four points and three assists, dumping scoring chores to his teammates and some playmaking duties to backup guard Craig Porter Jr. at times. Garland flipped the page moving into the second quarter, increasing the pressure on the Sixers with backbreaking assists to Max Strus on the perimeter or slicing and dicing Embiid and company on the interior.

With his teammates satisfied in the first half, Garland turned up the heat in the second, scoring 18 points and throwing out two assists in the final two minutes of play. When he started putting it on offensively, he didn’t affect the flow of anything; an offensive system wouldn’t do that. Instead, he maintained the same tempo and cadence that he established in the first quarter, exerting consistent pressure to Philadelphia inside and drawing numerous free-throw attempts.

Overall, Garland made 100% of his free-throw tries and, more crucially, set the setup for overtime by making the game’s biggest play.

It’s extra funnier to consider that Dean Wade, who had his own circus 3-pointer against the Denver Nuggets, was the one who made the pass for Garland’s heave. But Garland’s shot confirms the view that the Cavs are at their best on offense when everything revolves around his passing and scoring. While there are risks associated with that approach, it has the potential to break rather than make games for Cleveland. However, given Garland’s offensive talent, such risks appear to be few and far between.

It’s also worth noting that all of this has happened for Garland without his having to share the stage with Donovan Mitchell. This isn’t just a cheap way of saying that the Cavs should move Mitchell immediately and commit entirely to Garland on offense. Instead, when Mitchell returns to the stage, it will be a learning and developing experience for him to discover his position as the Robin to Garland’s Batman.

On paper and in practice, Garland and Mitchell are the best backcourt in the NBA most nights. With this sudden burst from Garland and Mitchell’s red-hot offensive engine, most nights will soon become every night. It will just take time, and if the team continues to ride high like this, it will become the new normal for Cleveland.

But, in the meanwhile, the Sixers got to experience what an offensive scheme looked like, as Harden was never as devastating as Garland in Philadelphia.