Look Out, East – Sixers Have New ‘firepower'

Marco Belinelli has built a reputation during his career of needing to be watched with a close eye.

On Wednesday at Wells Fargo Center, his skills were on full display during the Sixers' unbelievable 104-102 comeback over the Heat (see observations).

"What a great introduction to the city for him," head coach Brett Brown said. "That's why we brought him in."

The Sixers have lacked two things during the first half of the season: perimeter shooting and bench scoring. Belinelli provided both Wednesday, scoring 13 of his 17 points during the Sixers' second-half comeback. He shot 7 of 12 from the field and hit on 3 of his 5 threes in 28 minutes off the bench.

The Sixers had a need and president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo filled it. Not with a trade, but by picking up the 11-year veteran shooting guard after he had been bought out by the fledgling Atlanta Hawks.

On Wednesday, Belinelli made Colangelo look like a genius.

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"I think the firepower that we needed from somebody was provided by him," Brown said. "I give tremendous credit to Bryan Colangelo for making this happen. We gave up no assets to bring him in and we bring in somebody that can change a game like that. Bryan deserves a lot of credit."

Before spending the early portion of this season with the 18-40 Hawks, Belinelli toiled away on a 36-46 Charlotte team last season and a 33-49 Kings team the year before. At the All-Star break, the Sixers already have 30 wins and are right in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race.

"I wanted to be on this team so bad," Belinelli said. "Just play with guys who go on the court and try to be better, try to play together and they want to win so bad and that's one thing I've been missing the last couple years, so I'm really happy."

With the Sixers trailing by 23 at the half and with no Joel Embiid on the floor (see story), it was not what Belinelli had signed up for. But thanks in large part to the firepower he provided, the Sixers outscored the Heat, 65-40, in the second half to secure a perfect 5-0 homestand (see story).

The atmosphere during the comeback was electric.

And Belinelli felt it.

"I need that," Belinelli said. "The last couple years - Sacramento, Charlotte and Atlanta - it's not easy to go out on the court and win games with the young guys. Just to be able to be a part of this team, that's what I need." 

And if his performance Wednesday wasn't enough to endear him to Sixers fans, this should only help:

"I want to win so bad and I really trust this process," Belinelli said. "That's the truth."

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