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  • Rankings the Last 6 Sixers’ Opening Day Rosters – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Rankings the Last 6 Sixers’ Opening Day Rosters – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    After Jimmy Butler left, the Sixers have had a tough time building a roster worth of a championship. Between striking out on free agents to players holding out, there has not been much luck coming their way. Let’s take a look at how the opening day rosters stack up against each other after Butler’s departure.

    6.

    2021-2022

    Record: 51-31, 4th in East

    Roster: Danny Green, Seth Curry, Tobias Harris, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Andre Drummond, Georges Niang, Furkan Korkmaz, Matisse Thybulle, Charles Bassey, Jaden Springer, Paul Reed, Isaiah Joe

    This was a disappointing, yet inevitable, beginning to the season. After such a terrible loss to the Hawks, where Ben Simmons passes up an easy bucket against Trae Young, Simmons received so much hate from fans and media, that he couldn’t play for the team anymore. He decided to hold out for a trade.

    Since Simmons held out, that really hurt the Sixers roster to start the year. They lost their all-star point guard and had to turn over the reigns to a second-year player with much to prove: Tyrese Maxey. This nonsense helped Tyrese Maxey’s growth tremendously by giving him so much playing time.

    Nevertheless, Maxey was nowhere near the player he is today, and the Sixers just didn’t have enough firepower from players other than Embiid to play that well to start the season. Tobias Harris never stepped up during his career here and no other player had the talent to help out Embiid.

    5.

    2023-2024

    Record: 47-35, 7th in East

    Roster: P.J. Tucker, Tobias Harris, Joel Embiid, De’Anthony Melton, Tyrese Maxey, Danny Green, Patrick Beverly, Kelly Oubre, Jaden Springer, Paul Reed

    Last year, the Sixers had to go through yet another season of conflict and strife. After just a year and a half removed from the Ben Simmons debacle, James Harden decided to hold out from the team too. This caused a lot of disdain from fans to organization and many people started to really lose interest (if they hadn’t already).

    Had James Harden stayed, the Sixers would have had a pretty good supporting cast for Joel Embiid. Even though he didn’t, they played well without him, going 22-10 from October to December. Unfortunately, disaster struck in this season later when Embiid tore his meniscus.

    Everyone knew they needed to get something in a trade to do damage in the playoffs, but the market did not have a big move in store for them which forced the Sixers to be compensated with draft picks and minor players. This season was over before it started just like when Ben Simmons held out.

    4.

    2019-2020

    Record: 43-30, 6th in East

    Roster: Ben Simmons, Josh Richardson, Joel Embiid, Al Horford, Tobias Harris, Matisse Thybulle, Shake Milton, Mike Scott, Kyle O’Quinn, James Ennis , Raul Neto, Furkan Korkmaz

    Going into this season, the Sixers had high expectations. They have a solid core with an exciting young player in Josh Richardson to go along side of Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, and Tobias Harris. Additionally, they just acquired Joel Embiid’s kryptonite (at the time). With Al Horford, Sixers fans imagined a dominant front court where no guard could come and score with two big men capable of scoring inside and outside of the three point line. Unfortunately, this team did not live up to expectations.

    After just a few months of play, everyone realized this team didn’t fit right. They lacked perimeter scoring more than anything. Horford and Embiid took away from each other much more than they built each other up. Because of these issues, the team was forced to make many moves during the season to bolster their depleted bench and lack of scoring.

    It’s important to note that this was the COVID year, but that doesn’t excuse the fact that this team had major holes and would end up getting swept by the Celtics in the playoffs.

    3.

    2020-21

    Record: 49-23, First in East

    Roster: Danny Green, Seth Curry, Tobias Harris, Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, Dwight Howard, Mike Scott, Furkan Korkmaz, Shake Milton, Matisse Thybulle, Tyrese Maxey

    After a year with lackluster shooting from the outside, the Sixers corrected that issue by signing Seth Curry and Danny Green – two players who shoot the three better than anyone they had the last year. These two can also hold their own on defense since they were only ever asked to guard the worst player. With defensive stars in Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, it made playing defense much easier for the rest of the team. They had the 2nd best defensive rating in the league that year.

    The Sixers were also excited to have offloaded Al Horford from the team and replace him with a backup-only center. He would strictly play minutes where Embiid wasn’t on the floor. While Howard boosted the teams worst trait (rebounding), he didn’t contribute much else. The Sixers rely on their centers to score, and he couldn’t do that well at all.

    For the first time in a while, the Sixers finished the regular season with the number 1 seed in the Eastern Conference  (this was a shortened season because of COVID as well). This gave the city some very high expectation to go deep into the playoffs.

    The talent was there for this team, but mentally, Ben Simmons destroyed this team and would never be the same player again after the catastrophe in the 7-game loss to the Hawks in the postseason.

    2.

    2022-2023

    Record: 54-28, Third in East

    Record: P.J. Tucker, James Harden, Tobias Harris, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Montrezl Harrell, Danuel House, Georges Niang, Matisse Thybulle, De’Anthony Melton.

    The Sixers finally got a star guard with MVP style play. James Harden was acquired by the team the year before via trade for Ben Simmons and the city yearned for a championship after so many years of disappointment – this finally seemed like the team.

    James Harden and Joel Embiid built chemistry through the latter half of the previous season and were expected to shine bright together as a dominant duo. They played very well together, but Harden’s ball dominant style presented some problems with Embiid’s incompatible similarity in his style.

    Luckily, Harden invested in his relationship with Tyrese Maxey which helped Maxey develop into a better version of himself. In his third year, Maxey started developing into a very solid player. This team also had talent to get the job done, but ended up falling short yet again.

    1.

    Current

    Record: TBD

    Roster: Ricky Council IV, Andre Drummond, Joel Embiid, Paul George, Eric Gordon, Reggie Jackson, Kyle Lowry, Caleb Martin, KJ Martin, Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, Kelly Oubre, Guerschon Yabusele

    Now, Tyrese Maxey is a bona fide star in the league. He and Embiid have great chemistry with each other and perfectly understand how to play along side the other. These two have grown so much together as a duo and have emerged as one of the best duos in the league.

    Then, finally, after waiting so long for a free agent star signing, the Sixers signed Paul George to accompany Embiid and Maxey on their quest to a championship. Many teams add stars just to add a star, but in this case, Paul George also happens to fit perfectly with these two. Their play styles compliment each other very well.

    The front office wasn’t finished after George, though. They also signed a power forward that will bring fire and intensity to the team. Caleb Martin will fit right into this city. He elevates his game when it matters, and plays with heart.

    Also, Andre Drummond is returning to Philly, where he served as Embiid’s best backup just a few years ago. By signing him and bringing Lowry and Oubre back, the Sixers have some continuity from years past. These players have played together before which will only help their chances of winning this year.

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    Collin Benjamin

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  • Instant observations: Tyrese Maxey’s unbelievable late-game heroics save Sixers season in Game 5

    Instant observations: Tyrese Maxey’s unbelievable late-game heroics save Sixers season in Game 5

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    NEW YORK, NY — In an all-time clash, the Sixers somehow emerged victorious in Game 5 Tuesday night, 112-106, because of all-time shot-making from Tyrese Maxey. Their season remains alive with the series returning to Philadelphia. 

    Here is what stood out from a thrilling Sixers-Knicks Game 5:

    Sixers open fourth quarter with a bang

    Let’s start in the guts of the game. With a dozen minutes of play left to decide their season, the Sixers came out strong: they opened the fourth quarter with Maxey sinking a long two-point jumper, then got a stop and extended their newfound lead to four thanks to a corner triple by Nico Batum. 

    Within 41 seconds, the score had swung by five crucial points, and a furious Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau called timeout once again. 

    Fatigue plagues Embiid down the stretch as turnovers pile up, and Nurse makes a tough call

    Joel Embiid was sloppy for a lot of this game, but it became uncontrollable in the fourth quarter. By the time Embiid had thrown away his eighth turnover of the game nearly halfway through the fourth quarter, Nick Nurse called timeout, and after the break Embiid was not on the floor. Nurse opted to not play Embiid for the entirety of the second half after it did not work out for the Sixers in Game 3. With or without Embiid, the Sixers had a lot of ground to cover. 

    Embiid’s rest only lasted for 72 seconds of play before a Jalen Brunson and-one extended their lead to six points.

    Tyrese Maxey saves the season

    Miles McBride made a free throw line jumper to extend the Knicks’ lead to six with fewer than 30 seconds left. 

    Then Tyrese Maxey did something unforgettable.

    First, Maxey converted an absurd four-point play to trim the lead to two points. Josh Hart split two free throws, and Maxey came down, pulled up from the logo and saved the Sixers’ season with the most brilliant shot of his four-year NBA career. 

    What can you say about this guy anymore? The Sixers’ 23 year-old guard is special, and the five-year maximum contract extension he is set to sign this summer is much-deserved. With Embiid a shell of himself for much of this game (and significant portions of the series), it is the fourth-year player in his first full season as a point guard who rose to the occasion time and time again. He is not a star, not an All-Star, but a superstar in the making.

    Embiid and Maxey deliver in overtime and the Sixers find a way remain alive

    Embiid was flat-out terrible for 48 minutes. Maxey made several crucial mistakes down the stretch. But after Maxey’s herculean effort forced overtime, the Sixers’ duo of 2023-24 All-Stars refused to let the Sixers head home empty-handed. Maxey continued to hit big shot after big shot, and Embiid finally began to come through with timely baskets while simultaneously obliterating the Knicks’ offense as a rim protector.

    After a true instant classic, the Sixers are going to return home and play more basketball. Game 6 is Thursday night at the Wells Fargo Center.

    Sixers defense comes to play early… even if their offense did not

    It took four minutes and 24 seconds of play before the Knicks got on the board in this one. Tobias Harris (of all people!) scored the first five points of the game — first on a corner triple and then a mid-range jumper — before Isaiah Hartenstein knocked down two free throws for the Knicks. Tyrese Maxey followed that up with a 5-0 run of his own, and more than five minutes into the game, Thibodeau called timeout with his team trailing 10-2. The Knicks entered that timeout shooting 0-8 from the field and 0-3 from beyond the arc.

    The Sixers missed some great looks early on, squandering an opportunity to jump out to a massive early lead, but Harris and Maxey did just enough to get the Sixers out in front in the opening minutes.

    Sixers win first quarter 26-17 despite unusual Embiid performance

    Embiid made only one of his five field goal attempts in the first quarter of this one, inciting quite a bit of pleasure from the New York City crowd. But the other parts of his game were on-point early on: his rim protection was characteristically outstanding, his grabbed six rebounds and also dished out three assists. 

    It is fair to wonder if the Sixers could have really blown things open early had Embiid been effective as a scorer, but regardless of his shooting struggles, the reigning NBA MVP did find a way to impact the game in a positive manner early.

    Knicks make significant second-quarter push amid continued Embiid struggles

    In the three minutes and 57 seconds in which Embiid rested — between the final minute or so of the first quarter and the opening pair of minutes in the second quarter — the Sixers’ five-point lead was predictably extinguished. But when Embiid returned to the floor, his struggles as a scorer only escalated, and suddenly New York took control of the game.

    Robinson once again performed excellently as Embiid’s primary defender, and New York’s once-dormant offense got going. Miles McBride scored five straight points, Brunson began to knock down jumpers, Robinson threw down a powerful alley-oop dunk and the Knicks were able to build a formidable deficit for the Sixers to overcome.

    Maxey’s scoring saves Sixers’ chances, but team enters halftime trailing 49-43

    The Sixers were brutalized by the Knicks in the second quarter, as New York outscored them 32-17 in those 12 minutes. The Sixers’ only saving grace was Maxey, who’s at least able to halt the Knicks’ momentum a few times, including with an impressive buzzer-beating layup that trimmed the deficit to six before the teams headed to their locker rooms.

    Of course, the onus is always on an entire team to rise to the occasion in a big game, but everybody knows that things start and end with a team’s best player. Embiid’s offensive showing in the first half — a 3-10 shooting line from the field with three turnovers — was just not good enough. 

    Sixers respond with a run to open third quarter

    The Sixers were likely doomed if they did not throw a haymaker at the Knicks to open the second half, and perhaps that is exactly what Sixers head coach Nick Nurse told his team in the locker room. The Sixers took a punch from the Knicks and were able to connect back.

    The Sixers’ opening act in the third quarter was strong enough that Thibodeau called a timeout on two different occasions before even four minutes of time has passed. They outscored New York 10-2 in the first three minutes and 51 seconds of the quarter, allowing them to first tie the game and then take the lead. Once again, the key cog in their turnaround was Maxey, who punctuated the run with a gorgeous finish at the rim.

    Sixers enter fourth quarter trailing by one

    The Sixers won the third quarter, 26-21, but left some points on the table with missed open threes. All in all, Nurse and co. will take what they got over the course of those 12 minutes, though: repeated good looks on the offensive end, fueled by mostly-crisp passing, and cohesive defense. 

    A (relatively) clean bill of health for the Sixers

    Aside from Robert Covington, who remains out with a bone bruise in his left knee, the Sixers had two players listed on their injury report, and they were both starters. 

    Joel Embiid has been listed as questionable before just about every game the Sixers have played since he returned from his two-plus month absence due to a meniscus injury in his left knee, and that did not change, but his designation did: rather than just being listed as dealing with “left knee injury recovery,” Embiid was also listed as having a migraine — which Embiid said last week was the first symptom he experienced before being diagnosed with a case of Bell’s palsy. Embiid missed the team’s shootaround Tuesday morning, but was never expected to miss a do-or-die game.

    Kelly Oubre Jr. also missed Tuesday morning’s shootaround after the team told reporters that the swingman “did not feel well,” and Oubre was later listed as probable with an illness. However, he, too was ultimately made available and put in the starting lineup.

    The injury gods giveth and the injury gods taketh away for New York

    The Knicks, who have battled injuries all season long, relied on seven players to notch a Game 4 victory: Robinson, who excelled for the first two and a half games of the series before missing the second half of Game 3 with an ankle injury, was ruled out a half-hour prior to tip-off on Sunday afternoon. Meanwhile, Bogdanovic — who knocked down three triples in each of the first two games of the series and helps New York space the floor in a major way — went down with an ankle injury 71 seconds after checking into the game. Bogdanovic, who was already dealing with a severe wrist injury, has been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to his pair of injuries that will likely both require surgery.

    Robinson returned for the Knicks in Game 5 despite still dealing with the aforementioned ankle ailment — the same injury that held him out for more than three months in the regular season. With Bogdanovic out, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau decided not to call upon the services of Precious Achiuwa — his backup center to open Game 4 who ultimately helped swing the game in New York’s favor with his infectious energy and tremendous athleticism at the power forward position — in a role resembling the one he thrived in during the prior contest. Instead, the Knicks used a seven-man rotation. That is considered a rarity this early in the playoffs, generally speaking, but clearly nothing can be put past Thibodeau.

    Follow Adam on Twitter: @SixersAdam

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    Adam Aaronson

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  • Instant observations: Late-game collapse sinks Sixers, who trail Knicks 2-0 in first round series

    Instant observations: Late-game collapse sinks Sixers, who trail Knicks 2-0 in first round series

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    NEW YORK — About 46 hours after their valiant effort resulted in a heart-breaking Game 1 loss at the hands of the New York Knicks, the Sixers returned to Madison Square Garden for a rematch: on Monday night was Game 2, as the Sixers looked to even the series at 1-1 before it headed to Philadelphia.

    But in those 46 hours or so, a lot has happened and been discussed. The most noteworthy point of discourse has been the state of reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid’s left knee. Embiid suffered an extreme injury scare to the already-damaged knee on Saturday evening, when for a few moments it looked like his season was going to be over due to an injury to the same knee which kept him out for more than two months before his return April 1. Embiid ended up only missing a few moments of game time due to the injury, but was far from the best version of himself after returning.

    Then came another cause for concern: on Monday morning, the Sixers suddenly listed their other All-Star, point guard Tyrese Maxey, as questionable for Game 2 with an illness. Maxey went on to miss the team’s shootaround.

    Between the uncertain statuses of the two best players on the team and the reeling nature of some of the duo’s critical supporting pieces, the feeling around the team was understandably anxious.

    Embiid was not his best self — again — while Maxey dazzled. But brutal late-game errors sent the Sixers packing with a 2-0 series deficit staring them in the faces.

    Here is what jumped out from Game 2 of Sixers-Knicks:

    Embiid and Maxey play

    Per the usual, De’Anthony Melton and Robert Covington were ruled out prior to tip-off: Melton’s status for the remainder of the series and playoffs remains unknown, while Covington appears to be out for the remainder of the season.

    The only other Sixers listed on the injury report were the aforementioned stars, Embiid and Maxey, but each was made available after going through their pregame routines.

    Maxey’s opening heater

    In Game 1, Embiid set the tone with an early 9-0 run after the Knicks had taken a 2-0 lead. In Game 2, Maxey similarly put his foot on the gas early, but he didn’t wait for the Knicks to score first. Maxey opened the scoring in this one by knocking down a three… and then another three… and then another three.

    Maxey put together a personal 9-0 run of his own that was — fittingly — very fast. It gave the Sixers a whole lot of juice early, not to mention a healthy lead in the game’s opening minutes.

    Of course, any run within a playoff game is enormous, let alone one that opens the game. It certainly does not hurt to get one from the guy who was supposed to be a game-time decision.

    Embiid’s up-and-down, but mostly positive, first quarter

    Once again, Sixers head coach Nick Nurse played Embiid for the entirety of the first quarter — as he did for most of the regular season prior to Embiid suffering his meniscus injury. Embiid did not shoot the ball particularly well in the opening dozen minutes, but was extremely active: he made four of his 10 field goal attempts — including two of his three tries from beyond the arc — and split four free throws. But Embiid also grabbed eight rebounds — four of them coming on the offensive glass, in a fortunate change of pace — and collected a pair of assists. He committed a turnover in the first minute or two of the game, but after that played a clean quarter of mistake-free basketball.

    Embiid’s rim protection, as expected, was also tremendous.

    Early returns on rebounding adjustments

    The biggest reason the Sixers lost Game 1 was because they were brutalized on the rebounds, particularly as they allowed an almost-comical 23 Knicks offensive rebounds. Nurse and several Sixers rotation players entered Game 2 having spoken at length about the need to shore up their team rebounding efforts.

    The Knicks grabbed an offensive rebound on their first possession of the game, and it momentarily felt as if the Sixers were going to be eviscerated on the boards. But it took more than 10 minutes for them to allow another offensive rebound, a play that gave the Knicks their only two second-chance points of the entire quarter.

    Rebounding is a team effort under all circumstances, so all Sixers rotation players deserve joint credit for their improved performance in that department, but it is hard to ignore the way Embiid set the tone on the glass with constant energy and effort that was not there in Game 1.

    Sixers survive early stretch without Embiid

    Despite Paul Reed giving the Sixers strong minutes for most of Game 1, they were pummeled when he manned the middle in Embiid’s place, getting outscored by 21 points in just 11 minutes.

    In Game 1, Embiid helped the Sixers build a nine-point lead by the end of the first quarter, and after five minutes of Embiid sitting on the bench, the game was tied.

    In this one, Embiid helped create a seven-point Sixers lead by the time for the first quarter ended. He rested for the same amount of time as he did on Saturday, but this time when he returned the Sixers still led by seven: they broke even without their best player, which in the playoffs is an enormous feat. For all of Embiid’s struggles in Game 1, they would have won if they were even outplayed by a modest amount when he sat rather than being obliterated.

    Part of succeeding when Embiid rests is successfully running the offense through Maxey, and the Sixers were able to that. Maxey led all scorers in the first half with 20 points, shooting 7-11 from the field, 4-7 from beyond the arc and 2-2 from the free throw line. Maxey also dished out five assists and grabbed three rebounds in before intermission.

    The Tobias Harris revival

    Harris struggled from the field to open the game, making just two of his first six shot attempts, including missing the mark on two wide open triples. But his energy to open the game was outstanding: he was active on the glass, both in terms of grabbing rebounds on his own and by simply preventing the Knicks from doing so with effective box-outs. He also ran down an offensive rebound that led to an easy layup for Buddy Hield (and nobody needed to see the ball go in more than Hield) and won a jump ball against a seven-footer, Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein.

    Two made threes later, Harris entered halftime with a stellar line: in a team-leading 21 minutes, he scored 10 points on 4-8 shooting (including 2-4 from beyond the arc), six rebounds, two assists, a steal, a block and zero turnovers.

    The outpouring of frustration with Harris in recent days — which has been even more furious than usual — was mostly warranted considering his performance. But given the way he was playing and the way he was being lambasted, regardless of whether or not the criticism was deserved, it is impressive that he was able to collect himself and reward Nurse’s trust in him with such a strong first half.

    In the fourth quarter, the Knicks repeatedly targeted Harris as a defender, forcing him into switches against their leading offensive option, Jalen Brunson, and Harris just got stops against the scoring aficionado over and over. In Harris’ five-plus years as a Sixer, he has never put together such a marvelous defensive showing,.

    Josh Hart at it again

    I wrote before this series kicked off that Hart, who was the Knicks’ star in Game 1, had the potential to reach levels of annoyance that the Sixers and their fans have not experienced stemming from the performance a role player in the playoffs in several years. But even this is a bit beyond what I expected.

    Hart’s 22 points, 13 rebounds and four threes made him the player folks will remember from Saturday night. And on Monday, he picked up right where he left off: Hart had 19 points, 10 rebounds and another four threes… in the first half.

    Nurse spoke in his media availability before Game 2 about the team’s commitment to limiting Brunson, and how that necessitates leaving a subpar three-point shooter like Hart open. Hart is not a good enough shooter to commit a defender to him at all times, but clearly he is good enough that he can make a defense pay for leaving him open at any given moment. So far in this series, the Villanova product has done exactly that.

    Maxey’s Most Improved Player case, exemplified

    Maxey was named a nominee for the NBA’s 2023-24 Most Improved Player Award on Sunday night, and many expect the fourth-year guard to take home what would be the first full-season individual honor of his NBA career. One crucial stretch early in the third perfectly illustrated two of the underrated ways in which he has progressed as a player in the last year.

    Maxey’s case to win the award stems from his significant scoring uptick, but he has also made massive strides as a playmaker and passer in his first full regular season as a point guard. Maxey’s passing was excellent in this game, and perhaps none of his dishes were better than an impressive skip pass he threw that created a made three for Kyle Lowry, who had been silent as a scorer up until that point.

    On the other end of the floor, the Knicks set up Maxey to defend their own first-time All-Star guard in Brunson. Brunson is not an easy cover for anyone, but particularly someone like Maxey because Brunson boasts such a massive strength advantage over Maxey. But Maxey stood his ground against the NBA’s fourth-leading per-game scorer in the regular season and forced a stop. Forget last year, Maxey may not have been able to make that play last month. His defensive improvement over the last handful of games alone has been staggering.

    Knicks finally take control during Embiid’s second half rest

    Embiid did not play the entire third quarter, as Nurse appeared to deviate from his typical substitution patterns. Instead, he rested for four of the final five minutes of the quarter. In that time, the Knicks outscored the Sixers by six as they finally captured their first lead of the game and created a modicum of separation.

    That run that continued into the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, when the Knicks’ lead expanded to as wide as eight.

    Intense fourth quarter ends with Sixers falling short again after late mistakes

    The Sixers led by five with fewer than 30 seconds on the clock in Game 2. Then a Brunson desperation three took a wild bounce in, the Sixers turned the ball over in the backcourt — not using a timeout that they had remaining — and Donte DiVincenzo hit his fourth three of the game to give the Knicks the lead. One Maxey miss, two OG Anunoby free throws and an Embiid missed desperation three later, the Knicks had won.

    An all-time, epic disaster for the Sixers, who had Game 2 and a tied series in hand. They head home with a tall task at hand: win four of the next five, or go home.

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    Adam Aaronson

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  • What to make of the Sixers-Knicks regular season series ahead of playoff matchup

    What to make of the Sixers-Knicks regular season series ahead of playoff matchup

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    In several recent seasons, the Sixers dominated the New York Knicks in the regular season. There was a multi-year span in which the Knicks failed to notch a single victory over the Sixers. Things changed in 2024, though, when the new-look Knicks took three out of four contests against the Sixers, with two of those wins coming in Philadelphia and all three of them occurring in blowout fashion. This past regular season was the first in which the Knicks won the season series over the Sixers since the 2015-16 campaign in which the Sixers finished 10-72.

    Season series results are often not emphatic indicators of playoff series outcomes, and this is an example of that: Sixers superstar center Joel Embiid only played in one of the four games these two teams faced off in this season. But across the four games, spanning from the beginning of January to the second week of March, there are some lessons we can learn.

    Just so you would not have to, I spent my Thursday afternoon and evening rewatching all four Sixers-Knicks contests looking for any sorts of tells that may indicate how the playoff series will turn out. Here is what I found:

    Tyrese Maxey will see a lot of different looks — but one more than most

    Like the Sixers and the Miami Heat team they just defeated, the Knicks have faced a tremendous amount of adversity this season, mostly in the form of injuries, and they have faced that adversity better than the Sixers or Heat all year long. Even now, as the dust settles before the playoffs begin, the Knicks will be without three-time All-Star forward Julius Randle, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury.

    There are many obvious negatives to dealing with a massive amount of injuries, but there are some silver linings. One of those is that it enables many players to prepare to fill several different roles throughout a season, so that no matter what challenges are thrown their way in the postseason, they do not have to enter uncharted territory. 

    The Knicks’ All-Star point guard, rising superstar scorer Jalen Brunson, finished this regular season 10th in the NBA in total minutes played. But two Knicks actually played in more contests than Brunson: fellow Villanova products, workhorses Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo, who each logged 81 games. Hart is one of the game’s best rebounders; DiVincenzo is one of the game’s best three-point shooters. But both are tried and true defensive forces. Hart uses his incredible strength to take on bigger assignments, while DiVincenzo is more reliable against guards.

    The Knicks, however, swung a significant trade at the end of December, acquiring wing OG Anunoby from the Toronto Raptors. Because of his late arrival and ensuing injuries, Anunoby has only played 23 games in blue and orange — but when he has suited up, the Knicks have been dominant: New York went 20-3 in the regular season when the two-way threat was available. Part of the reason why was that he immediately stepped in as one of head coach Tom Thibodeau’s most trusted perimeter defenders. 

    At 6-foot-7 and 232 pounds, Anunoby can guard big wings and even some big-men. But because of his tremendous athleticism and foot speed, he may profile as the Knicks’ best chance to slow down Maxey, the Sixers’ first-time All-Star guard who may be in line to win the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award after averaging 25.9 points per game — 11th-best in the NBA — in his fourth professional season.

    Anunoby only played in two of the four Sixers-Knicks games this season — though Sixers head coach and former Toronto shot-caller Nick Nurse’s former trusted wing did play against the Sixers twice in the early portion of the season as a member of the Raptors. But when Anunoby did suit up for New York against the Sixers, he was often Thibodeau’s first choice to defend Maxey. When one glances at Maxey and notices his frame, they would not expect someone who looks like Anunoby to be his primary defender over the course of a playoff series. But the Knicks’ starting wing figures to draw the assignment more than any of his teammates.

    This is where we must circle back to the Knicks’ bumpy journey, though. Because they have had to live life without Anunoby on plenty of occasions, the Knicks have both Hart and DiVincenzo more than prepared to take on the Maxey assignment at any given moment. Anunoby’s superior speed likely makes him Thibodeau’s choice to open things, but if either of Hart or DiVincenzo need to step into that role, they can. The Knicks’ rotation also features an x-factor of sorts: 23-year-old guard Miles “Deuce” McBride, whose ability to defend his position at a high level while also knocking down 41 percent of his three-point attempts on significant volume has made him a fan favorite in New York. 

    Things did not go perfectly for Maxey against Miami. Unfortunately for him, they are not going to get much easier against New York. The time for him to step up is now.

    The Sixers do stand a chance against Brunson

    Brunson is, as Maxey referred to him after Wednesday night’s Play-In Tournament victory, New York’s “head of the snake.” The Villanova product who was born in New Brunswick, NJ put together an absolutely stellar season featuring yet another massive leap. Brunson received his first All-Star nod in the first half of the season and only got better from there, ultimately averaging 28.7 points per game — the fourth-highest average in the NBA over the course of the season.

    As you have probably heard by now, Sixers veteran wing Nico Batum had the game of his life to save the Sixers’ season Wednesday night: he scored more points (20) than he had in any game in over a calendar year, put on a defensive clinic and came through in every single important spot. 

    The Sixers did a good job limiting Brunson as a scorer across their four contests against the Knicks this season, holding him to 22.3 points per game on subpar efficiency (Brunson posted a true shooting percentage of 53.6). One of the primary reasons was Batum, who by my eye spent more time defending Brunson than any other Sixer. Batum may continue to come off the bench in this series — the Sixers’ starting lineup of Maxey, Kyle Lowry, Kelly Oubre Jr., Tobias Harris and Embiid has generally been quite successful since Embiid’s return from injury, and starting lineup changes this time of year are rare. But Batum’s ability to not just pressure Brunson, but do so across all 94 feet of the floor, make it easy to pencil him in as an integral part of the Sixers’ rotation in this series, perhaps even more than usual.

    But, like the Knicks, the Sixers have plenty of trustworthy defensive options on the perimeter as well. Lowry and Oubre were both stellar on that end of the floor against Miami, and will both see some of Brunson (Oubre would be my pick to open games defending him). Maxey lacks the physicality to counter the immense strength that helps make Brunson so lethal, but his defensive strides in recent weeks have been noticeable, culminating in an impressive outing in that department against the Heat. He can take on difficult assignments these days, even if for brief spurts of time. Harris is not the ideal defender against a point guard, but has enough reps in similar matchups that he would not be a terrible option against Brunson if needed.

    Slowing down Brunson may be even more challenging for the Sixers than slowing down Maxey will be for the Knicks. But in addition to the strategic advantages that come with having a coach as creative as Nurse, the Sixers do have the requisite personnel to make the fellow first-time All-Star guard’s life difficult.

    Hart attacks are on the way to Philadelphia

    By the end of any good playoff series, each fanbase has a newfound hatred for a player on the opposing team who they simply did not realize would frustrate them so much. Heat fans may never forget The Nico Batum Game. One reason the Sixers won that game is because Miami was without renowned Sixers Killer Terry Rozier. 

    Hart’s exploits have always been respected because he played at a high-profile school and won a national championship. His abilities have become even more appreciated in recent months as he stars in a significant role for one of the league’s flagship teams in one of its largest markets. He is even a viral podcaster these days. But at his core, Hart is simply a killer who will always find a way to torture his opponents and their fans.

    I do not say this lightly: Hart has the chance to frustrate Sixers fans more than any opposing role player has since Marcus Smart’s peak of annoyance with the Boston Celtics.

    First of all, the way the Sixers play on defense and their tendency to attempt to suffocate stars allow capable but imperfect three-point shooters to take big shots. One of the reasons they beat Miami is that someone like former Sixers developmental project Haywood Highsmith missed all four of his three-point tries. Hart fits the exact profile: he is not a good enough shooter that the Sixers will always stick to him when Brunson drives — Hart made just 31 percent of his three-point tries this season — but as a 34.4 percent three-point shooter for his career and a genuine big-game player, he has more than enough ability to knock down a crucial shot in a pivotal situation.

    Then there is the defense. Hart will likely get some cracks at Maxey; as a 6-foot-4 player that is the kind of matchup one might expect him to take on. But he will also see a lot of time — perhaps the majority of his minutes — against wings. Hart is extremely physical, enough to hang with guys who may have much better frames like Batum or superior athleticism like Oubre. 

    But Hart is also cerebral. There will absolutely be times when he goads Harris into making avoidable blunders. His timing on double-teams against Embiid will be pristine, and he will likely force the reigning NBA MVP to commit some turnovers that look like head-scratchers. Hell, he and Thibodeau are both so maniacal that he could end up guarding Embiid one-on-one at certain junctures. That is the kind of versatile athlete the Sixers will have to deal with here.

    This is perhaps all without mentioning the part of Hart’s game that will anger Sixers fans the most: his uncanny rebounding ability. Despite that 6-foot-4 listed height, Hart averaged 8.3 rebounds per game this season. He finished the season 16th in the NBA in total rebounds, an absolutely ridiculous feat for someone of his size. What is as impressive as Hart’s rebounding ability is the timeliness of his rebounds. He seems to come up with every single 50-50 ball, will revive possessions with offensive rebounds at crucial junctures of games, and is simply able to come away with the ball on occasions when he has absolutely no business doing so. 

    Prepare for at least one Knicks win in this series where Hart makes a defining play or has a signature moment or performance. It feels inevitable.

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    Adam Aaronson

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  • Tobias Harris’ Rollercoaster Season – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Tobias Harris’ Rollercoaster Season – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    No one has seen more ups and downs in a season quite like Tobias Harris. His recent struggles have been hard for the Sixers to overcome, especially with the absence of Joel Embiid – and now Tyrese Maxey. Harris is the epitome of a rollercoaster player.

    We’re at the top 

    There have been many stretches in Harris’ career as a Sixer where he’s played like an all-star. This season Harris is averaging 17.5 points on 49% shooting (35% from three), 6 rebounds, and 3 assists, which on a stat sheet, isn’t bad at all. His impact on the team may not seem so prevalent on the court at times, but it goes beyond what fans can see. He’s a leader, a mentor, and the type of character every team wants in their locker room. When he’s playing at his best this team is nearly unbeatable.

    There are many instances where Tobias’ play, whether it’s his scoring, defense, or other overlooked stats, have lead the Sixers to victory this season, even though it doesn’t seem like it. Just recently, Harris led the way to victories against both the Hornets and Mavericks which made it feel like he was getting out of his recent slump. Or so we thought.

    And here comes the drop 

    Following those two games Harris put up, let’s say, less than stellar performances. Actually, it was pretty unacceptable, especially against two teams who are fighting for draft positions. This is just a testament to how Harris’ season has gone. And let’s face it, Tobias has and always will be a streaky player. He seems to always go on cold stretches that happen at the worst times.

    It’s easy to understand fans’ frustration with his shortcomings when there’s no Joel or Tyrese to pick them up. He absolutely needs to play better and take over the major scoring portion when they’re not playing, there’s no excuse for it. Only scoring a total of 8 points against the 13th seed in the West isn’t going to cut it now, and definitely not in the playoffs.

    Entering the loop 

    Tobias is in his contract season. This is the final year of his five- year, $180 million contract with the Sixers and none of those five years have been easy. He’s made a lot of sacrifices in his role and style of play for this team which is not easy, but it isn’t an excuse either when Embiid and Maxey are not playing.

    It’s normal if the shots are not falling, not everyone plays great all the time. That doesn’t justify some low effort and poor decision making that ends up infecting the rest of the team. The biggest factor for Harris right now to get back into a good rhythm is confidence. He needs to play with confidence, get to his spots, and be more aggressive. Whatever happened in the Charlotte and Dallas games, he needs to find a way to continue to put that same effort out there every night.

    It’s not that Sixers fans need to give him a Trea Turner standing ovation, but while he’s on our team we still have to support him. It’s ok to boo and let him know we’re frustrated, but he’s just as frustrated, if not more. Hopefully he’s able to climb his way out of this slump before the playoffs and bring back that all-star Tobias we know and miss.

    Photo: Mike Lawrie/Getty Images

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    Caitlin Barrar

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  • This is Still the Same Tobias – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    This is Still the Same Tobias – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Let’s all just take a chill pill on Tobias Harris. I get it. He scored a lot of points the last two games and was a significant factor in the Sixers getting two good wins. He played great. The only problem is, he has done this his whole time with the Sixers and his whole career before that.

    Last 10 Games

    Minus these last two games, Harris has scored over 20 points just one time. He averaged just 13 points per game in that 8-game stretch before games against the Hornets and the Mavs. Then, when you put those two games into the averages, voila, that average shoots up to over 16 ppg. 16 ppg is great, but the inconsistency kills.

    Career Numbers

    Over his career, he has averaged 16.3 ppg on around 47% shooting and a respectable 36.9% from 3. If that doesn’t tell you all you need to know, then I’m not sure what will. Those are essentially the exact number that he has put up over the last 10 games. Decent averages does not mean a good player. He has made a living from sub-par play boosted by the occasional 2-5 game stretch of good basketball that inflates his numbers to make him seem like a much better player than he is.

    This season, he averages 17.6 points per game, 50% field goal, and 35.6% from 3. These are the same numbers! He is who he is and there’s no changing that.

    Common Misconceptions

    There’s a state going around that says the Sixers are 98-47 when Harris scored 20 or more points. OK? I bet most teams win more than they lose when more players score more points. That’s just common sense. The problem with that stat is: he’s played 362 games. He has scored 20 or more points in just 145/362 games. Broken down, that equals approximately 2 out of every 5 games. That’s not good enough for a near-max contract player.

    Also, some people say “Tobias Harris can’t score like he used to anymore. He’s getting old.”

    No he’s not.

    Just look at his career numbers. They are the same this year as they have been every year. It’s not that he isn’t the player he was with us just a couple years ago. It’s that he isn’t sharing the court with the most dominant scorer the NBA has had in years (that’s Joel Embiid if you didn’t know).

    How Much More of This?

    Luckily, this is the last year of Tobias’ contract. It’s safe to say we only have to watch this consistently inconsistent basketball for just a few more months.

    The only way two ways Tobias stays:

    • They win the NBA finals
    • He comes back on a very team friendly deal (I mean he owes us right?)

    Those are the only two conditions that could warrant this man returning to Philadelphia next season. Daryl Morey will make a huge mistake resigning him. Even if he does sign a team friendly deal, I don’t think many people will be happy with it. He will have to take a reduced role, which could be awkward, and he’d be making less money. He would be better suited playing for a bad team where he can be his inconsistent self.

     

     

    Picture from Getty Images

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    Collin Benjamin

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  • Instant observations: Tobias Harris breaks out of slump, Sixers defeat Hornets

    Instant observations: Tobias Harris breaks out of slump, Sixers defeat Hornets

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    The Sixers made a quick stop at home Friday night for a matchup against the struggling Charlotte Hornets. It was a timely opponent for a Sixers team desperate for a win, and they took care of business, defeating the Hornets 121-114. Here is what jumped out from the victory:

    Nick Nurse makes big changes

    With Joel Embiid, De’Anthony Melton and Kelly Oubre Jr. all out for this contest, the Sixers’ head coach took the opportunity to get creative and change up his starting five. Nurse made some radical adjustments: he started Kyle Lowry alongside Tyrese Maxey, slid Buddy Hield up to the three, and replaced Paul Reed in the starting lineup with Mo Bamba. The Sixers’ starting unit in this one — Maxey, Lowry, Hield, Tobias Harris and Bamba — had never spent one single possession on the floor together before this one tipped off.

    Nurse has remained adamant that Nic Batum would be a long-term starter, as his several talents are tailor-made for someone who is rounding out a star-centric unit. But Batum returned to the bench Friday night. It is unclear how much of this is performance-based — Batum has struggled to leave a lasting impact on games since returning from another lengthy absence due to injury — and how much of this is about protecting him from missing time down the line. But it is certainly notable that Batum, who at one point seemed like a lock to start for the remainder of the season, has been returned to the bench after a period of regression.

    For as long as Embiid is out, Nurse is justified in experimenting with his lineups, because nothing has stuck since the reigning NBA MVP went down with his left meniscus injury. As the Sixers focus on maintaining their standing in the Eastern Conference’s top six seeds — and bypassing the NBA’s Play-In Tournament — Nurse must figure out how to maximize the capabilities of his injury-ridden roster.

    First Quarter

    • Harris got off to a nice start in this one, giving the Sixers a solid first eight minutes or so. He scored eight points, grabbed two rebounds and collected an assist, including knocking down two of his four attempts from beyond the arc, before checking back in and the end of the period and scoring twice more, including a buzzer beater three, to get to 13 points in the first 12 minutes. The Sixers have been desperate for Harris to break out of what has been possibly his single worst slump in five-plus years as a member of the team. With Embiid out, they have needed their veteran wing scorer to step up. Instead, he has been largely disastrous. The Sixers hope his nice start to this one can help him escape the struggles that have been plaguing him for weeks.

    • The most impressive aspect of Buddy Hield’s tremendous opening to his Sixers tenure was his playmaking. Just as much as he was knocking down tough shots, he was creating looks for others consistently — something he had never done very well in the NBA. Just as his shooting percentages have dipped in recent games, his assist numbers have gone down. Well, in the first quarter of this game he dished out four assists. His ability to leverage the attention defenses pay him because of his threatening nature as a three-point shooter into better looks for his teammates has been impressive.

    Second Quarter

    • After a solid defensive quarter in the first, the Sixers’ defense fell off a cliff in the opening minutes of the second period. First against a small-ball lineup with Harris and Batum manning the middle, and then against a lineup with Bamba at the five, the Hornets were getting to the rim with little deterrence and finishing there just as easily. For all of his flaws, the Embiid-less Sixers are at their best on the defensive end of the floor when Reed is in the game.

    • Ricky Council IV is clearly a ridiculous athlete, so much that just about every time he checks into the game he seems to make at least one play that impresses. In this one, he finally got the poster dunk he was longing for: Council duped a defender with a pass fake, opened up a driving lane and threw down an absolutely massive slam over Grant Williams. Council’s leaping ability is absolutely outrageous: 

    • After going down due to their poor interior defense and a hot shooting stretch from the Hornets, the Sixers put together an impressive run, led by Hield and punctuated by a three from Lowry. It was a much-needed spurt, as the Sixers were down by as many as a dozen in the middle of the quarter.

    • Before the trade deadline, it felt like the Sixers could really use another heady player who makes good decisions. Fast forward, and they have Lowry, simply a brilliant basketball mind who is leaving a significant impact on every game with both his play and his mind. It is more apparent than ever just how much the Sixers needed someone like him. A funny anecdote: as he was being replaced by Cam Payne in the final minutes of the first half, Lowry refused to leave the floor until each of his teammates on the floor had acknowledged the play he had called — a “Horns” set that the team frequents. Lowry finally stepped to the bench and continue to direct traffic on the possession from across the floor — and, yes, the Sixers did score on the possession.

    Third Quarter

    • It was more of the same from Harris early in the second half, a fantastic sign. He was able to continue scoring efficiently in a variety of ways, whether it be from beyond the arc, at the rim or in the intermediate area. At this point, even a half-decent game from Harris would have been an encouraging sign. Instead, he went above and beyond, truly leaving his mark on the game for the vast majority of the contest. The Sixers surely hope this performance can serve as a turning point of sorts for their $180 million man.

    • When you think about great shooters in the NBA, you think about the catch-and-shoot triples first and foremost. Maybe, if you are lucky, your best shooter can run around a bunch of screens and fire away while on the move. And then there are the truly great launchers: guys who can create their own shots from beyond the arc all on their own. And while Hield has never been thought of as an on-ball generator of offense, in addition to the aforementioned shot creation for others, he has displayed the ability to knock down off-the-dribble threes. Hield truly is an elite three-point shooter in every possible fashion.

    Fourth Quarter

    • Maxey received some rest in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, and it was clear that these minutes would be pivotal. The Sixers went to a lineup led by Lowry and Payne as ball-handlers, with Harris and Batum on the wing and Reed in the middle. That grouping gave Nurse excellent minutes: Harris and Lowry created timely offense, Batum knocked down his first three of the game and Reed was a stalwart at the rim. Those minutes could have easily sunk the Sixers. Instead, they propelled them.

    • Given Batum’s recent struggles, it was a significant encouraging sign to see him give the Sixers solid minutes, particularly in the second half. Batum did a little bit of everything, as he does when at the top of his game. It remains to be seen whether he will be a starter long-term or if he will be relegated to a bench role, but either way he figures to be a significant piece of the Sixers’ puzzle for the remainder of the season.

    • Reed has similarly not been himself of late, and so maybe there is something to him having his best game in recent memory Friday night after being returned to the bench. What matters much more than who starts a game is who logs the most minutes. Anecdotally, it feels as if Reed consistently gives the Sixers better minutes when coming off the bench. One thing is for sure: for as long as Embiid is unavailable, it remains crucial that Reed gives the Sixers quality production at the center position. On Friday night he did, and it was a major reason the Sixers were able to nab a victory. 

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    Adam Aaronson

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  • The Sixers have a Chemistry Problem – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    The Sixers have a Chemistry Problem – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    The Sixers don’t know how to play basketball without Joel Embiid. Granted, he’s a great player, but they look dysfunctional and disorganized without him. They’ve only won 7 out of 23 games. This situation gave players an opportunity to get some extra playing time to prove themselves and get aggressive on offense, but some have squandered this opportunity.

    Biggest Woe

    Tobias Harris remains the biggest problem on the Sixers. Imagine the difference his $184 million could have made on legitimately any other player or players in the league. He wastes space on the floor and continually kills the team with his inconsistency and lack of aggression on offense. This time without Embiid should have opened up more opportunities for him to score and get into a rhythm, but he accomplished quite the opposite.

    Many words can describe Harris’ performance against the Bucks and the Knicks, but disgraceful seems to do the job best. In both games he scored less than 10 points and had at least a -11 +/-. For a guy that should be the second option with Embiid out, he sure does not live up to it. It really is a shame.

    Chemistry Issues

    Not that this should come as a surprise to anyone, but the Sixers have not looked like a unit with the big man continuing his rehab. Not only did the Sixers lose the player with the highest usage percentage in the NBA (unofficially because he does not meet the minutes restriction), they also slightly revamped their roster.

    Buddy Hield has had a very good start with the Sixers, but that hasn’t translated into a winning formula so far. He’s had relatively high usage at 20.9%. Even with a good player, that will no doubt provide chemistry issues with any team. This isn’t necessarily a negative thing, but it isn’t a glaring positive at the moment. I have no worry that he will really help this team moving forward, but in the meantime, they need to figure things out.

    Another new trade acquisition, Cam Payne, also has a high usage percentage with the team at 21.8%. This brings the same chemistry issues. He has provided a spark off the bench here and there, but nothing earth-shattering. He doesn’t turn the ball over much, but any point guard with a new team needs time to gel.

    Moving Forward

    Ideally, the Sixers can build chemistry and keep themselves out of the play-in game while Embiid nurses himself to full health. The team can’t afford to rush Embiid back before he’s fully healthy, so they need to hold down the fort in the meantime.

    Hopefully, when Embiid returns, he can plug right in and boost the team back into championship contention with the new pieces around him. It would devastate the team and their playoff hopes if he comes back and the chemistry resets. Embiid is such a talent so playing with him shouldn’t be too hard, but not many teams can win it all with plug and play players that don’t have chemistry.

    Hield’s fit with Embiid

    During this time of “hanging in there,” Nick Nurse should evaluate the play styles of his new players which hopefully he can use to game plan for Embiid’s return. Obviously he’s familiar with Embiid’s game and Lowry’s as well, but Hield could prove a fantastic fit with Embiid.

    With Hield’s incredible catch-and-shoot ability, a formulated two-man game between him and Embiid could prove to be lethal against any team they play against. Mix that in with Maxey and they could become the new three headed monster that we all hoped we had with Simmons, Fultz, and Embiid.

    Obviously, this fully revolves around Embiid’s availability and his fitness level. We will have to eagerly wait for the next Embiid update to decide if we can start to hope for the playoffs or expect another disappointing ending.

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    Collin Benjamin

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  • Sixers Flirting with Dangerous Territory – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Sixers Flirting with Dangerous Territory – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Don’t get me wrong, the Sixers are having a great season. It has been incredibly fun to watch after the less than optimal start to the season. Nick Nurse has been refreshing, and Embiid has played so well that I almost forgot James Harden was on the team this year; however, they still only sit at the third seed in the east with the Knicks close behind.

    History of NBA Champions’ Seeding

    Teams that finish the regular season with the 1 seed are the obvious favorites to win the NBA Finals. Teams with the 1 seed have made the finals 89 times, the 2 seed – 39 times, 3 seed – 16 times, 4 seed – 5 times, and the 5-8 seeds combined have made it 5 times.

    So, historically, teams that fall out of the top 3 have a very tough time getting to the NBA finals. The Sixers are finding themselves falling into that territory right now. Between the rocky start with new players and a new coach, and Embiid missing his usual lot of games, they could find themselves as the road team in the second round of the playoffs if they aren’t careful.

    What’s Gone Wrong So Far?

    As usual, Joel Embiid has missed a ton of games so far this season. 12 to be exact. If he misses 5 more games, he will be ineligible to receive MVP even though he has dominated the league more than anyone has in years. This isn’t a “bash Embiid” session, but the big man needs to find a way to stay healthy. Home court advantage gives teams major advantages in the playoffs – as seen above.

    Oubre and Melton have also missed 14 and 12 games respectively. These two should contribute heavily to this team, but with them missing so much time it has forced Nick Nurse to give more minutes to Korkmaz, Springer, and Martin, who will most certainly not see much time in the playoffs. These guys need to stay healthy to develop the chemistry needed for the playoffs and to give the team a boost to get better seeding before April 20th comes around.

    A handful of others players have also missed a few games including Maxey, Tobias, Batum, and Beverly. Hopefully the team is getting the injury bug over with earlier so they can dominate down the road.

    What’s Gone Right?

    The Centers

    First off: Paul Reed.

    Out of all the injuries the Sixers have had, Reed has not missed a game. I don’t know why Glen Rivers hated this guy so much, but now that he has firmly taken the backup center position, he has done a great job. He is averaging career highs in points, rebounds, blocks, and assists this year. It is nice to see him get a real chance.

    Also, even though it was a loss, he had a career night against Jokic, scoring 30 points and 13 rebounds with no Embiid, Maxey, Tobias, or Melton. Having games like that against a premier player like Jokic could get him a starting gig somewhere around the league.

    This goes without saying, but Embiid has been the other shining positive this year. He has just been so dominant in every game he’s played. By the way, he still has more points than minutes on the season. He is well on his way to be the first player since Wilt Chamberlain to do so, AND he is averaging more points per minute than Wilt did in 1961. What a phenomenal player.

    We’ll Have to Wait and See

    We can look at the history of the NBA seeding and talk about Embiid’s playoff woes all we want, but none of it means this will not be Embiid’s year. Continuing to play at this level will cause a lot of problems for teams in the playoffs. He will have to stay healthy, but the future looks bright for Embiid and the Sixers this year.

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    Collin Benjamin

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  • LaMelo Ball sprains left ankle in Hornets loss to Wizards

    LaMelo Ball sprains left ankle in Hornets loss to Wizards

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte Hornets All-Star point guard LaMelo Ball sprained his left ankle in the third quarter of a preseason 116-107 loss to the Washington Wizards on Monday night when his foot was stepped on while he was driving to the basket.

    Ball was driving the left side of the lane when Washington’s Anthony Gill inadvertently stepped on Ball’s foot, causing the third-year pro’s ankle to twist awkwardly.

    Ball remained on the floor for several minutes before getting to his feet and gingerly walking to the free throw line. He shot two free throws, then immediately checked out of the game and headed straight to the locker room.

    He is expected to undergo more tests on Tuesday.

    “Fingers crossed that it is not something serious,” Hornets coach Steve Clifford said.

    Clifford said Ball and center Mason Plumlee, who sprained his left foot in the game and also left early, won’t play in Wednesday night’s preseason game at Philadelphia.

    Ball is considered the centerpiece of the Hornets’ offense, averaging 20.1 points, 7.6 assists and 6.7 rebounds per game last season.

    Ball had nine points and six rebounds before leaving the game.

    Kristaps Porzingis had 20 points to lead the Wizards, who received some good news before the game that Bradley Beal cleared the league’s health and safety protocol, but was out with a non-COVID illness.

    Terry Rozier led the Hornets with 24 points on 8 of 13 shooting, including making all but one of his four 3-pointers.

    76ERS 113, CAVALIERS 97

    Tyrese Maxey continued his sharp preseason play scoring 19 points to lead Philadelphia to a win in Cleveland.

    Maxey, who surpassed 20 points in the Sixers first two games, was 6 of 14, including 3 of 5 from outside the arc. Tobias Harris had 12 points and seven rebounds. James Harden finished with 11 points, six rebounds and four assists. Harden, like Harris and Maxey, played 24 minutes as Philadelphia remained undefeated in three preseason games.

    Jarrett Allen led the Cavaliers with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Darius Garland added 17 points and seven assists in 31 minutes. Caris LeVert finished with 13 points, while Donovan Mitchell had 11 points and five rebounds in the latest look at Cleveland’s Garland-Mitchell backcourt.

    While the game featured two teams with strong hopes for a postseason run in the Eastern Conference, neither was at full strength. Center Joel Embiid sat out the game for the Sixers, as did Montrezl Harrell, suffering from an intercostal strain.

    Meanwhile, Evan Mobley continued to be out of action for the Cavaliers after suffering an ankle injury, and Kevin Love didn’t play because of a sore knee.

    HEAT 118, ROCKETS 110

    Max Strus scored 24 points as Miami rested a lot of its key players in a home win over Houston.

    Jamal Cain, Nikola Jovic and Dru Smith all scored 15 points.

    Duncan Robinson had 14 points for the Heat as Kyle Lowry, Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro were among those taking the night off.

    Jalen Green led the Rockets with 25 points and five assists, while Kevin Porter Jr. had 21 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Tari Eason finished with 17 points and Kenyon Martin Jr. had 13.

    NUGGETS 107, SUNS 105

    Ish Smith scored 17 points, including the go-ahead 20-foot jumper with 8.9 seconds left as Denver beat visiting Phoenix.

    Smith had tied the game at 105 converting an 18-footer with 39 seconds remining. Duane Washington Jr. of Phoenix had a chance for the win, but his 3-point attempt in the closing seconds was off the mark.

    Bones Hyland had 16 points for Denver before leaving in the third quarter with a lower leg sprain. Bruce Brown finished with 12 points.

    Devin Booker led the Suns with 20 points, and Deandre Ayton finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds, converting 9 of 12 shots.

    Mikal Bridges had 14 for Phoenix.

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    More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP—Sports

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