VJ

Edgecombe

Edgecombe gave the 76ers vital contributions on both ends of the floor to help get the team into the second round. The rookie knocked down five three-pointers on Saturday, and his third-quarter defense on Boston’s Derrick White was also critical. After scoring 19 points in the first half, White was limited to two points in the third quarter, with Edgecombe taking on that assignment. His ability on both ends of the floor will also be important in the 76ers’ second-round series against the Knicks, which opens on Monday.

Maxey shot the ball well in Game 4 and committed just one turnover, but the 76ers did not have enough firepower to run with the Celtics. Backcourt sidekick VJ Edgecombe (6/4/1/1) and wing Kelly Oubre Jr. (two points, four rebounds, one assist and one block) shot a combined 2-of-15 from the field, and the 76ers could not overcome those struggles, even with Joel Embiid back in the lineup. Maxey and the 76ers now head to Boston for Game 5 on Tuesday, needing a win to stave off elimination.

Edgecombe headed to the locker room twice and was seen riding a stationary bike on the 76ers’ sideline at points during the game. Nevertheless, the 20-year-old guard managed to play 35 minutes and was excellent in Game 2. Edgecombe bounced back from a 13-point performance in Game 1 to lead the 76ers with 30 points and six three-pointers in the Game 2 victory. The series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Friday.

Edgecombe’s official playoff debut did not go as smoothly as the rookie would have hoped. While good inside the three-point line, he missed all five of his three-point attempts on the day. Edgecombe played 34 minutes against the Celtics, and that was with the fourth quarter essentially being “garbage time.” Edgecombe and the 76ers will look to put up more resistance in Game 2 on Tuesday.

Making his postseason debut, Edgecombe was able to find multiple ways to make an impact, which contributed to them getting the win. Edgecombe enjoyed a fantastic rookie season, and it isn’t a surprise that it translated to postseason success. They’ll need it to continue during their first-round matchup with the Celtics to have a chance to pull off an upset. Game 1 is scheduled for Sunday.

Edgecombe continues to stuff the stat sheet in a way that few rookies typically do. He did a little bit of everything in this game to help the 76ers end a three-game losing streak. Edgecombe has taken on a large role during his first year in the league, and he’ll need to continue to make large contributions to help the 76ers make it out of the play-in tournament. Edgecombe isn’t in contention for Rookie of the Year, but he has made a huge impact for fantasy managers and will continue to do so for a long time.

Edgecombe did many things well against Houston. He was productive from the three-point line as a scorer, but also was the lead table setter for the Sixers’ offense. And on the defensive end, the rookie guard had active hands in coming up with a pair of steals, helping round out a balanced overall performance. Edgecombe has had a very good rookie season and should only become more productive as his career lengthens.

Payne strained his right hamstring during the first half of Saturday’s loss to the Pistons. While his availability does not affect fantasy basketball, it does cut into Philadelphia’s depth at point guard. VJ Edgecombe may have to do a bit more, especially when Tyrese Maxey is not in the game. The two-week timeframe means that Payne would not be available for the Play-In tournament if Philadelphia can’t earn a top-six seed.

Limited to eight points in his last outing, Edgecombe more than doubled that number on Saturday. The 76ers’ rookie did not have the most efficient night, but he did finish with a complete stat line. With the 76ers still fighting for seeding in the East, fantasy managers whose leagues run through Week 24 should benefit from Edgecombe having four games on the schedule.

The 76ers’ need to insert their starters back into Wednesday’s game during the fourth quarter paid dividends for fantasy managers rostering Edgecombe. The rookie shot 3-of-5 from the field in the period, scoring seven points to go along with three assists. Edgecombe finished with his seventh double-double of the season and second of the points/assists variety.