Maurice Harkless and Sixers compete in first Summer Legue game
Maurice Harkless is ailed by a sore hip flexor. He still played in the first Summer League game for the Sixers, showing some flashes of what the team is expecting from him.
Maurice Harkless and Sixers compete in first Summer Legue game
Bob Cooney
Maurice Harkless scored nine points and grabbed five rebounds in his Summer League debut as the team lost to the Indiana Pacers by 69-63.
Harkess is hampered by a strained left hip flexor, an injury he sustained about six weeks ago while working out. It didn't appear to hinder him too much during his 23 minutes.
“I felt all right,” said Harkless, who went for nine points and five rebounds in 23 minutes. “I hurt it about a month or so but I just have to fight through it. This was my first time actually playing. Once I got warmed up and everything it really wasn’t bothering me too much.”
This Summer League isn’t about what Harkless is doing now but how it will help him in the future. That’s where the organization sees him helping them the most.
“Right now I’m just looking to get some experience, get up and down and have fun and show what I can do.”
“He’s been out pretty much all camp and really this was his first practice run,” said assistant coach Aaron McKie. “He did pretty a pretty good job out there. We had him playing multiple positions. I like what I saw out there on the court. He’s 19, he’s a kid. He has to get used to the speed of the game, the strength of the game. He’ll be fine. I think he’s going to be a heck of a defender, he can move his feet. He just has to work on the nuances on the offensive end as far as getting himself open. Those things will come. Just the raw skills in the guy, he certainly has those things. ”
Second year big men Nikola Vucevic and Lavoy Allen watched the action from the bench, but for different reasons. Vucevic did not play due to a left Achilles’ strain, while Allen can’t play until he signs his new 2-year contract on Wednesday. He was heading back to Philadelphia to get a physical and the plan was for him to come back to Orlando to perhaps play in the final two games Thursday and Friday. Rookie Arnett Moultrie, who just had a boot removed from a sprained left ankle, didn’t play and is expected to be out all week.
In the 69-63 loss to the Pacers, guard Jacob Pullen came off the bench to lead the team with 15 points. Xavier Silas added 10 as did University of Washington product Justin Holiday, the brother of Sixers starting point guard Jrue Holiday.
My god thatgame was hard to watch. Mckie will never coach at any level with that rotation. I'm assuming they were resting Lavoy and Vuce, and Harkless's injury prevented him from being on the floor at the end of the game. Jrue's brother looked pretty good, about the only bright spot from a game full of ballhogs and brick-layers. The rest of the roster is basically trash.— Njtod10- Thanks for reading the article before posting. — BeFrank
- lets be honest, Harkless has no shot at doing anything in this league as long as Silas and pullen are running the team. His only saving grace might be rosen! its pretty sad that malik wayans isnt running this team, what the hell is this front office doing? i mean Humphries will sign a 1 year deal, at this point get in touch wit his agent, out bid everyone, and give him whatever he wants to get here. we can not compete with our front line. its freightening— johnGiam
- Be careful with logical talk like that you may be labeled not a "real fan". In other news Sullinger, Nicholson and PJII had good games. Looks like Sullinger has slimmed down and is back to stroking the 3 ball. I did like what I saw from little Holliday.
- Sullinger gets 20 points for the Celts ... do the Sixers know what they doing ? not sure— anthemra
- Sullinger was a player that may a lot of teams pay. Nicholson looked solid but he also had the benefit of playing with Wayns who found his teammates in the right spots. The Sixers had terrible guard play and Harkless wasn't even looked at because Pullen and Silas were too concerned with getting theirs. Shame on the Sixers brass for not inviting Wayns to their summer league team. Doesn't this organization remember sleeping on Kyle Lowry?— Mattb
- Easy folks! It is ONLY one SUMMER league game. Come on now.— dudega
- dudega, true they are just summer league games, and with DC in charge Harkless may never see the light of day during the regular season so he might as well light up these re-treds now while he has a chance. Pullen never saw a shot he didn't like or take for that matter,— Njtod10
- If anyone saw Maalik Wayns today, he was probably moving at warp speed in comparison to the drech the Sixers put out on the floor today at PG...The 31% FG shooting and in ability to get a pass to a cutter reminded me of many a Sixers' halfcourt O this past season...Maybe Zack gets a few minutes tomorrow McKie?...Agreed on Nicholson,O'Quinn,P Jones,and Jared Sullinger all looking like pros out there...hopefully our guy comes out a little more assertive tomorrow..The athleticism's there, and the team likes him for the potential of being an Iggy stlye defender...But I'm still looking for points..It won't be found on this Summer League team...— bearsfriend
- From the article it sounds like they are still trying to figure out what position they want to play Harkless and that he didn't get to practice too much because of a hip flexor. Yes, I'm talking about practice. Taking those things in to consideration, and the fact that Harkless may have been the only player representing the Sixers in this game that will make an NBA roster, I'm okay. — BeFrank
- Would like to see more of the wispy and athletic Justin Holiday, as he reminded me of a poor man's Michael Cooper. I wouldn't be surprised if he got invited to camp...Also, I was really impressed with the Sixers' pick at #54, the Nets' Tornike Shengalia..strong,physical, with a hemi for a motor...If the Sixers are looking for a shooter, I'd bring Adam Morrison in for a flyer in camp..Hair is cut,expectations are down, but the shooting stroke is still there...Interesting to note that DC and Rowdy Rod were NOT sitting together.— bearsfriend
- I will say this about Harkless. His shot is already LIGHT YEARS ahead of turner, Iggy, and thad's! Not saying thats much to write home about, but Fundamentally, its not a bad shot. from what I see, it shouldnt be hard for him to develope his stroke into a player who can make some shots. and thats a very pleasant surprise for me. i can definitely see now why DC said his shot is not broke. ala, whatever you want to call what Iggy does, or thad n turners line drives! I do know that they absolutely RAVE about his potential perimeter defense. They love his arms, tenacity n foor speed!— johnGiam
- i have a bad feeling! I have not seen anything to support this. But Im having a crazy feeling that we are about to announce a trade for Dajuan Blair! Please dont you all croke with excitement!— johnGiam
- wow bears! nice comparison between justin n micheal cooper. Im getting this terrible feeling that we are about to announce a trade for dajuan Blair! Im firmly believe that you cant compete without a player who can Guarentee you 8 rebounds or more every single night! we dont have that player! I am petrified of going into this season without a PF. Putrid options left: Humphries, Blair can be had in a trade, the always injured carl landry, underwhelming JJ hickson. This is really say!— johnGiam
- johnGiam: I am increasingly concerned that my prediction of no more than five new faces on this roster is going to come true and yes, they desperately need a veteran four who can board and defend. As for Harkless, long way to go before making any determination, either yea or nay.
Bear: agree that Pullen is a flat-out gunner, but he managed to bang home two threes late in the fourth quarter, unlike virtually everyone else. Holiday's brother looked decent but I doubt we are going to see anyone from this group stick around with the Sixers other than Harkless. Too bad about Rosen, but four games to go. Like I said on another posting, I will be having the Mtairy1 regimen of Sangria and shots of Patron before the game tomorrow, as I just cannot watch these games sober. Tired of seeing so many bricklayers. CAN'T ANYONE SHOOT? ARE THERE NO PLAYERS WITH A MID-RANGE GAME? WHAT HAPPENED TO FUNDAMENTALS? At least in the Utah game, there were one or two times that fast breaks took place with outlet passes and the ball not touching the floor, about which Kendall Gill correctly raved.— chuckw
Bob Cooney has been at the Daily News for more than 20 years, working in the sports department for the past 15. This is his third season on the Sixers beat. He has covered just about everything, but mostly college basketball, where he was the La Salle beat writer for six seasons. E-mail Bob at cooneyb@phillynews.com and follow him on Twitter.
