The Sixers have a rare three days off between games, and they plan to use those days wisely.
They will use Monday and Tuesday to help Glenn Robinson III get acclimated to their system. Robinson III, who they claimed Saturday off waivers, becomes the fourth player added since the trade deadline Feb. 19 (see story). He will also be the 25th player to take the court in a Sixers uniform this season.
Two of those new faces are point guards Isaiah Canaan and Ish Smith, who combined for 21 points, 14 assists and only two turnovers Saturday night (see story). Brett Brown was highly impressed with his playmakers' abilities against the Hawks.
"We bumped Isaiah over to the two (shooting guard) and gave Ish the ball," Brown said. "Both those point guards' assists relative to their turnovers — those are some fantastic numbers: 14 assists cumulative and two turnovers. It was Isaiah's career high in assists. I think those guards did a great job helping us close that game out."
Canaan finished with eight assists, while Smith had six. In eight games with the Sixers, Smith is averaging 9.3 points and 5.5 assists. Canaan has been with the team nine games and is averaging 13.6 points and 3.9 assists. He is shooting 39.4 percent from three-point range.
Given that Canaan and Smith are filling the shoes vacated by the reigning Rookie of the Year, they have been more than adequate, although they certainly do not have equivalent credentials of Michael Carter-Williams. The former Syracuse guard was averaging 15.0 points and 7.4 assists before he was traded to the Bucks last month.
Carter-Williams was the No. 11 overall pick in the 2013 draft. Meanwhile, Smith went undrafted, and Canaan was the No. 40 overall pick in MCW's same draft.
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It is a point guard league, so adding not one but two new faces with 20-plus games to go in a season is a difficult transition for any team. Canaan, Smith and the Sixers' coaching staff deserve credit for getting on the same page as quickly as they have.
"Their games are so different and unique," Nerlens Noel said. "Ish can get to the lane and Isaiah can shoot it which makes defenses have to play honestly. Their games both complement our team."
"I think they complement each other, and as we saw [Saturday], they can play together," Luc Mbah a Moute said. "That is a nice luxury for a coach to have. Both of them are playing well for us."