For all the MVP chants Carl Landry has listened to around NBA arenas over the past nine years, he did not expect to hear one for himself.
With just over a minute remaining in the Sixers' 107-93 win against the Pelicans on Tuesday (see game story), the home crowd cheered “M-V-P” as Landry took the free throw line. He had efficiently dominated the Sixers' offense and the fans expressed their appreciation.
“I was like, ‘What? MVP? Me?’” Landry said. “It was funny. It definitely put a smile on my face and it makes me feel good.”
Landry scored a game-high 22 points, going 9 for 10 from the floor, 2 for 2 from three and 3 for 5 from the line in 26 minutes off the bench. He shot a perfect 9 for 9 through three quarters and did not miss a field goal until 5:19 to play (see highlights).
“I think it was about my sixth or seventh shot, the ball hit the rim, then hit the top of the backboard, then it fell back in,” Landry recounted. “I’m like, ‘Oh man, this is nice. Let’s keep shooting it.’”
Landry also added a season-high nine rebounds. He had a balanced attack of four offensive and five defensive boards.
“I was just trying to be aggressive,” he said. “Every opportunity that I had … I was trying to get it. Each and every time I step out there on the floor, I’m trying to help my teammates win ballgames.”
NBA
The Sixers have been able to rely on Landry whether he is starting or coming off the bench, as he did against the Pelicans. He has flourished with increased playing time since the injuries to bigs Jahlil Okafor, Nerlens Noel and Richaun Holmes.
He averaged just 6.9 points and 2.7 rebounds in 11.6 minutes before the All-Star break, with injuries and DNPs throughout, in comparison to 11.1 points, 4.7 points and 18.1 minutes since then.
In his last five games, Landry is posting 17.4 points and 6.8 rebounds in 24.0 minutes.
Even when he wasn’t getting minutes, Landry stayed after practice and ran through drills, staying sharp and ready whenever he heard Brett Brown call his name. On Tuesday night, he enjoyed hearing the crowd call for him.
“Every time I step out there on the floor, I’m playing not only for myself, for my family, but the name on the front of our jersey is Philadelphia, the city of Philadelphia, our fans,” Landry said. “It definitely made me feel good that the fans of Philly, blue-collared people, majority of them, appreciate the effort I put in each and every day.”