Sixers’ Two-Way Players Shine in Season Opener

The Sixers' G-League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, would kick off their season on Thursday afternoon with a win over the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. Two-way players Paul Reed and Rayjon Tucker would make their debuts for the Blue Coats, and they would not disappoint.

When Paul Reed was at DePaul, he spent most of his time playing as a small-center. The positional versatility of the Blue Coats would allow him to get back to that and he would thrive.

Reed would pick up two quick fouls in the early moments of the game but would settle in nicely after. The up-tempo style of play run by Delaware allowed him to showcase his energy and athleticism on the floor.

The 2020 second-round pick would go on to be the team's third-leading scorer with 20 points along with grabbing 10 rebounds. He would also shoot a very efficient 8-11 from the floor in his G-League debut.

Along with showcasing what got him to the NBA level, Reed also showed some glimpses in growth in his game. He showed some potential as an outside shooter in college and would step out and hit a shot from three against the Mad Ants.

If Reed can continue to show growth in his game during his time with the Blue Coats, he could become an interesting small-ball prospect for the Sixers in the future. The up-and-down style in the G-League fits right into his game and he should continue to be a showcase player for Delaware.

Newly signed two-way player Rayjon Tucker would also put on a good performance in the season-opening victory. Tucker would be the second-leading scorer with 22 points on just seven field goal attempts.

Tucker would show why the Sixers cleared up a two-way spot to get him on the roster. He would attack the rim at will and get to the foul line seven times, converting all seven attempts. The three-point shot was also flowing as Tucker would hit two of his three attempts.

Along with what he showed as a scorer, Tucker also showed nice flashes as a facilitator. The 'pace and space' approach of the Blue Coats opened up the drive and kick game for Tucker when he attacked the rim. He would finish the game with four assists, the third-most on the team.

This game showed the value Tucker can bring to the Sixers over former two-way player Dakota Mathias. When the Sixers' roster was depleted due to health and safety protocols, it was apparent the team could afford to have more ball handling. Having a guy like Tucker stashed in Delaware will be good to have if the team is ever put into a situation like that again.

Seeing the two-way players thrive in their first game is a great sign for the Sixers. When their number can be called at almost any moment to fill in a spot at the NBA level, it is good that they look like top players at the G-League level.