PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia 76ers turned to Andre Drummond to start against the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night looking for some good production in place of the absent Joel Embiid. The 2-time All-Star delivered as he had 17 points and 12 rebounds in 34 minutes. He shot 6-for-9 from the floor and knocked down two triples on the night.
Drummond has constantly stayed ready for the Sixers and played plenty of different roles for Philadelphia. He has been called into the starting lineup, been the main backup to Embiid, been the 3rd-string center, and has played the mentor role as well. Then, when his number is called, he produces.
“He played good,” Tyrese Maxey said of Drummond. “I think he hit two 3s, right? He hit two 3s, he rebounded the ball. He was solid. He was super solid. I think he has been asked to do a lot of different things. He plays weird minutes sometimes. Joel plays, when Joel doesn’t play, he doesn’t start, but he’s been professional about it. He’s been ready every single time coach calls him into the game.”
Drummond has said in the past that it’s more so about preparing for the moment every single day. In the NBA, it’s all about staying ready so a player doesn’t have to get ready. He has been the definition of that as he works his way through his 14th season in the league.
“Just playing the game I know and love, man,” Drummond added. “I told you guys at the beginning of the year. Whenever my number’s called, I’ll be ready to go. It would’ve been better if we got the win, especially, against my old team, but we got them again next week so we’ll be prepared for that.”
As far as that 3-point shot is concerned, Drummond has worked hard on the shot. He shot 2-for-4 from deep against the Pistons, but there is one shot that stands out. The big man missed a corner 3 that would have tied the game that seemed questionable in the moment.
“Well, he hit a couple already,” coach Nick Nurse said of the shot. “Listen, they’re gonna pack in there, and every now and then, you’re gonna end up with that kick out as the shot. Again, I think if he was 0-for-0 or 0-for-3 at that time, I might have a different thing, but I think he was 2-for-3 at the time. Maybe 2-for-2, I can’t remember, but he already hit a couple.”
At the moment, Drummond was 2-for-3, but on the flip side, the Sixers could have gotten a shot for a guy like Maxey or VJ Edgecombe out on the floor. However, to Nurse’s point, he is shooting 40% from deep on 1.1 attempts per game.
“I mean, listen, I think he’s certainly made those a little more consistently this year and taking them in pretty good rhythm, right?” Nurse added. “Which I think can help us in the long run so not gonna fault him for that.”
Drummond gave the Sixers some fantastic production. Unfortunately, people will only talk about the missed 3 in the corner, but if that shot had gone in? Things could have bene a bit different and he knows it. If he gets that opportunity again, he’s going to let it fly.
“Those are shots that I’ve been taking in my career,” Drummond stated. “So, the fact that Nick is giving me the green light to shoot them, that gives anybody confidence when your coach believes in you to take those shots and I made two big ones earlier in the game and to have my team have confidence in me to make a third down the stretch of the game, it speaks volumes. I wish I would’ve made it. I think it would’ve really changed the game if I made it, but it’s a shot that I take and I’ll do it again.”
