The Philadelphia 76ers took in Patrick Beverley for his defense. So far, that has been paying off, and opposing teams are having nightmares.
Although the Sixers lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday, November 21, Beverley drew heavy praise from first-year head coach Nick Nurse. This was after the veteran guard was involved in some key stretches of the fourth quarter of that 122-119 overtime loss.
"We were having a hard time keeping the ball in front, we were having a hard time with the pick-and-roll. He was able to shut the water off on a lot of that," Nurse said for the Sixers who are so far 10-5 for the season via SI.com.
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An investment that will eventually pay off
Things may be shaky for the Sixers at this point of the season. However, adding the 2017 NBA All-Defensive First Team member is expected to play a pivotal role in the latter stretches of the 2023-24 season.
Scoring is not required from Beverley, especially with guys like Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris, and Tyrese Maxey having that covered. So, with the offense covered, addressing their defensive needs is a different department that needs attention.
Although his numbers may not catch attention, Beverley is doing the job by anchoring the Sixers' defensive needs. The 6-foot-2 guard is doing the intangibles that most overlook, except perhaps for Nurse and the Sixers. This will factor in considerably once the postseason wars come around.
The overlooked stats of Beverley
Patrick Beverley's stats may not be impressive this season; they are numbers that most would not pay attention to. He averages only 2.1 points, 3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 14 games for the Sixers, per Basketball-Reference.
However, a deep look shows Beverley leads the league with a defensive rating of 97 per NBA.com. The Sixers are 11th in the league overall as far as this category is concerned.
Beverley gets in the head of opposing players and teams
Throughout his career, Beverley has been known to be a pesky player who also tries to get in the head of other players. All this is part of his play, mind games that play a vital role in ruining the game of players who are doing well.
He is aware that his defense is why he was taken in. So far, this has led to him getting the best plus-minus off the Sixers's bench, and he is embracing that role via USA Today.
"Best plus-minus off the bench in the NBA, so it's expected. I'm a professional. I go out there and impact winning and I've been fortunate to be able to do that since I've been here," the 35-year-old combo guard said.
The Sixers are coming off a loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, 112-99, their second-consecutive loss with Joel Embiid sitting out due to a sore hip, per NBA.com.
They face the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday, November 25, hoping to break their losing skid. It will be a tough matchup for Philly, considering the Thunder are riding on a six-game winning streak.
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