Sixers Bell Ringer regular season rankings:
Jared McCain – 8
Paul George – 3
Tyrese Maxey – 3
KJ Martin – 2
Guerschon Yabusele – 2
Joel Embiid – 2
Justin Edwards – 1
Kelly Oubre, Jr. – 1

Well, the days off earlier this week were fun. The Philadelphia 76ers had won a few games and the new Big 3 of Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey started and finished a game together for the first time in Sunday’s win against Chicago. We allowed ourselves to hope again. That was our first mistake.

Before halftime, Joel Embiid was hit in the right side of his face by an accidental forearm from Bennedict Mathurin. He wouldn’t return to the game, and for a guy with a history of facial injuries, that’s not at all what you want to see.

Meanwhile, the teams continued playing basketball. Tyrese Haliburton rediscovered shooting, with Sixers defenses often covering his back, and knocked down 7 of 15 three-pointers en route to a game-high 32 points. Philadelphia turned the ball over five times more than Indiana and missed just 23 of 32 from the foul line. A late-third-quarter surge from a second-unit heavy lineup got the Sixers back to within six points, but a 12-0 run by Indiana over the final four minutes put the game away for the Pacers. Let’s take a look at Bell Ringer’s options after the 121-107 loss.

Kelly Oubre Jr.: 12 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 turnover

Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

Although the outside shot didn’t fall tonight, Oubre made an offensive impact both on and off the ball. He hit the glass hard (four offensive rebounds) and conceded a few putback balls. Kelly was also able to create his own shots off the dribble, sinking a couple of mid-range jumpers and completing a sweet spinning finger roll at the end of the third quarter. Add to that the fact that he also led the team on the defensive line and it was a solid night on the job for Oubre.

Ricky Council IV: 14 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, 1 turnover

Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

Now if you have to pick a Sixer to try and draw a foul, perhaps it would be wise to go with Ricky Council IV. The young forward has perfected the art of pushing and forcing his way to the basket while looking so intently at the rim that a whistle is almost certain to sound when defenders enter his space. Council made nine free throw attempts in the game (unfortunately it was only six), and his best play of the night was one where he didn’t call the foul but instead finished with a beautiful up-and-under finger roll off the glass. He also beat the Pacers to the boards and made a few impactful defensive plays. Council’s ejection while playing up front led to a three-point play by Tyrese Maxey in transition. His presence on the court seems to increase the Sixers’ energy level as a team.

Andre Drummond: 7 points, 8 rebounds, 1 steal, 0 turnovers

Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

At the start of the season, Drum, I’m not going to lie, looked a bit washed out. After years of backup center problems, I thought the universe was playing a big trick and the device that we thought would fix the problem suddenly stinks upon arrival. But Andre has been playing much better lately, including tonight against Indiana, where he struggled for a game-high five offensive rebounds. All three of his field goals came in the final three minutes and transition of the third quarter as the Sixers forced the Pacers into submission and got back into the game. Good to know Drummond still has those areas in him where he can own the painted area.