Atlantic Division Roundup: Simons Surges Off Boston Bench, Porter Jr. Awaits All-Star Call, Towns Earns Sixth Nod, Sixers Struggle On The Glass
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Boston — Anfernee Simons opened the season as an apparent trade chip for a Celtics club expected to rebuild. Four months later, the veteran guard has become a serious Sixth Man of the Year candidate and a key piece in head coach Joe Mazzulla’s rotation. Simons said the new role forced him to rethink success. “You’ve got to change your thinking,” he explained, noting that defense and playmaking now define a good night as much as scoring. With Simons thriving, ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel tweeted he would be “surprised” if Boston moves the 27-year-old before the deadline.
Brooklyn — Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. was left off the Eastern Conference reserve list despite averaging 25.6 points, ranking seventh league-wide in three-pointers made and tallying the conference’s fifth-highest scoring mark. Porter, who has logged 11 games of 30 points or more, could still reach his first All-Star Game if the league needs an injury replacement for the sidelined Giannis Antetokounmpo.
New York — Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns collected his sixth All-Star selection Sunday even while navigating an uneven offensive season. Head coach Mike Brown praised the 30-year-old, noting Towns leads the NBA with 11.8 rebounds per game, including 3.1 on the offensive end, and sits second on the team in scoring. “That’s impactful when you’re doing it in a winning situation,” Brown said.
Philadelphia — Rebounding remains a concern for the 76ers. Thursday’s victory over Sacramento produced the league’s third-fewest boards in a single game this season and capped an 11-game stretch in which Philadelphia ranks last on the glass. Backup rookie center Adem Bona has replaced Andre Drummond in the rotation, while Joel Embiid is pulling down a career-low 7.5 rebounds. Head coach Nick Nurse indicated matchups could prompt a return to Drummond for additional size.
Source: HoopsRumors
