PHILADELPHIA — The 76ers are turning to a well-traveled veteran in their search for a reliable backup center.
They’re hoping DeAndre Jordan can continue to handle that role for the final 18 games of the regular season and playoffs.
With Paul Millsap sidelined against the Bulls for personal reasons after spending five games as the reserve big man, Doc Rivers called upon Jordan to spell star Joel Embiid during Monday’s 121-106 victory over Chicago at the Wells Fargo Center.
Jordan, a 14-year pro, contributed two points, three rebounds, two assists, a blocked shot and a steal in 10 minutes during the Chicago win for the 40-24 Sixers, who maintained second place in the Eastern Conference heading into Thursday’s game against the Nets. Jordan is expected to continue backing up Embiid.
After receiving a nice ovation from the sellout crowd, Jordan missed an alley-oop attempt from Danny Green on his first offensive possession late in the first quarter, then found Green for a 3-pointer after grabbing an offensive rebound the next time downcourt.
Now with his sixth team, Jordan has the highest field goal percentage (.674) in league history among players with at least 2,000 made baskets. He rarely shoots from outside the lane, with 84 of his 90 attempts this season coming on dunks or layups.
For subscribers:Can Sixers win a title with James Harden? Here’s how other teams fared after deadline deals
Helping out on offense, too:Sixers counting on Matisse Thybulle for consistent offensive production with James Harden
Working on the rotation:Sixers’ Doc Rivers has some rotation decisions to make in time for playoffs
“They were really good,” said Rivers afterward of Jordan’s Monday minutes. “You can see his length, his ability to roll, his ability to block shots. That’s something we need.”
Jordan averaged 4.1 points, 5.4 minutes and 12.8 minutes in 32 games with the Lakers this season before being waived March 1, making him eligible for the playoffs. The Sixers signed him for the rest of the season Thursday.
“It was great,” was Embiid’s assessment after putting up 43 points and 14 rebounds. “That’s what we’re going to need him to do – come in and play 10 or 15 minutes every night. (He’s) just got to come in, rebound, screen, roll to the basket (and) get stops. And then he’s a great defender, too.”
“He’s going to be in that unit with me,” Harden said. “We played together in Brooklyn, so we’re familiar. But the more we can kind of get in our sets and make sure we’re in the right spots … when me and him are in that pick-and-roll, we have our lob targets and we have our 3s.”
Rivers likes keeping Harden and Tobias Harris on the court with three reserves, one of whom should be Jordan.
Jordan played with Harden for a bit last season in Brooklyn, Harris as a Clipper and for Rivers with the Clippers, so he’s seeing some familiar faces in Philadelphia. At the morning shootaround, Jordan said he just wants to bring energy when he’s out on the floor.
“As long as I’m setting screens, rolling hard, rebounding the basketball, and providing some defensive intensity on the floor, our unit should be OK,” Jordan said.
A three-time All-NBA selection earlier in his career who twice led the league in rebounding, the 6-foot-11, 265-pound Jordan has become a part-time player at the age of 33.
Dwight Howard did a decent job as the reserve big man during the 2020-21 regular season but struggled in the playoffs. Everybody from Amir Johnson to Kyle O’Quinn, Greg Monroe and Boban Marjanovic had a shot to spell Embiid in recent seasons, only to be unable to prevent the Philly starters’ leads from disappearing in the playoffs.
The Sixers tried second-year pro Paul Reed and then Millsap as the backup ‘5’ since Andre Drummond went to the Nets in the Feb. 10 Harden/Ben Simmons trade. Reed was solid in his two games, with Millsap perhaps a little less impressive.
For the Sixers to increase the chances of a deep playoff run, Jordan has to be better than those big men listed above. And he must do it on a regular basis.
“He’s a vet that’s been on some really good teams,” Harden said. “It feels like he hasn’t achieved his goal, as far as winning a championship. He has an opportunity to do that here.”
Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes; @TomMoorePhilly
