Wake Up With The Sixer Sense

Nov 21, 2015; Miami, FL, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown talks with his players during a timeout in the first half of game action against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Wake Up With The Sixer Sense – Hopeful Sunday

The Philadelphia 76ers are aiming at more history today when they take the court on the road to face the Memphis Grizzlies. Tied with their losing streak of 0-17 from a year ago, a loss tonight will actually surpass last years winless streak and place these Sixers into uncharted territory. With that game ahead, and the loss to the Houston Rockets behind them, there should be plenty of news to catch up on:

Sixers vs. Memphis Grizzlies at a glance – Keith Pompey, Philadelphia Inquirer

"411 ON GRIZZLIES: The Sixers will have their hands full defending Mike Conley. The point guard is averaging 20 points on 51.6 percent shooting – including making 50 percent of his three-pointers – in the last seven games. Conley also averaged 6.6 assists and 1.3 turnovers while scoring 20 or more points four times during the stretch.PROBABLE STARTERSSIXERS (0-17)33 Robert Covington F 6-9 13.3 ppg. 3.1 spg39 Jerami Grant F 6-8 10.2 ppg. 4.9 rpg.8 Jahlil Okafor C 6-11 18.0 ppg. 7.9 rpg.9 JaKarr Sampson G 6-9 5.5 ppg. 2.6 rpg.0 Isaiah Canaan G 6-0 11.3 ppg. 1.8 apg"

76ers-Grizzlies Preview – Sport Illustrated Staff Writer

"With one of the league’s top rookies facing a potential suspension and their top rebounder hurting, the Philadelphia 76ers are hardly in any shape to end their historic run of futility.Jahlil Okafor is still slated to play while Nerlens Noel’s status is murkier as the 76ers attempt to avoid matching the NBA’s worst start Sunday night against the Memphis Grizzlies.Boston police announced this weekend that a man filed a report claiming that he was the victim in a fight with Okafor outside a nightclub early Thursday morning. That department said Friday it wouldn’t investigate the incident unless someone came forward.That means the No. 3 overall draft pick could face team and league discipline as well as a possible court date.“It was definitely dumb on my part,” Okafor said before a 116-114 loss in Houston on Friday. “Something I’m embarrassed about. Still dealing with the league and the team but I’m not happy about it all. We’re still going through the process of what we’re going to do.”Okafor, averaging 18.0 points and 7.9 rebounds, was held to 11 points on 4-of-12 shooting and six boards against the Rockets. Robert Covington scored a career-high 28 points, but the 76ers’ franchise-record 16 3-pointers were not enough to keep … them from blowing a fourth-quarter lead for the fourth consecutive game."

Philadelphia 76ers, GM Sam Hinkie Undeserving of Constant Scrutiny By Nick Sciria from rantsports.com

"In recent weeks, fans from around the league have ramped up their scrutiny of the Philadelphia 76ers and management’s way of going about building a roster capable of competing for an NBA title. However, despite a historically abysmal start for the second season in a row, there is still hope for the team that presides in Philadelphia.Most NBA-watchers continue to look at box scores exclusively, a lazy tactic that makes bashing the 76ers’ plan of attack rather easy. Furthermore, most fans fail to wrap their mind around just how many assets Philadelphia has accumulated over the past few years, a strategy that has been executed rather well by Sam Hinkie and company.During the process of gutting the team, injuries have been taxing on the 76ers as a team. Obviously, Joel Embiid‘s injury looms large, but Robert Covington‘s hiatus was a tough blow as well. Additionally, Tony Wroten and Kendall Marshall have yet to play a minute this year, two key role players who bring skills that the rotation is searching for right now.However, with these injuries in mind, the situation in Philadelphia is not as bad as their 0-17 record indicates. The 76ers have played the third-toughest schedule to date, and although several of those games have ended in blowouts, Covington’s return has brought a new sense of hope to the team.In the past four games, Philadelphia has held a lead in every fourth quarter, giving the team a legitimate shot at claiming their first victory in the 2015-16 campaign. Although the 76ers have fallen short in their attempts thus far, one reality remains clear: Covington’s presence bumps Philadelphia into NBA respectability."