The Sixer Sense
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Short-handed Sixers Fall to the Pistons 125-111

By Dalton Lanoza

Mar 12, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Carl Landry (7) shoots past Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Carl Landry (7) shoots past Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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A second straight win just wasn’t in the cards for a very depleted Philadelphia 76ers team, as they fell short against the Detroit Pistons 125-111.

No one gave the Philadelphia 76ers much of a chance tonight (they were nearly 10 point underdogs), all things considering, but for much of the game they actually led the Detroit Pistons. Philadelphia played a top heavy game coming out guns blazing in the first. They outscored the Pistons 32-27 through the game’s first 12 minutes thanks to some very balanced play on both ends of the court. Detroit’s All Star center Andre Drummond was being held in check by Nerlens Noel, meanwhile the Sixer’s oldest players were putting on a show.

The second quarter was much more even as each team compiled 25 points to close out the first half. Some scrappy play by Ish Smith (16 points, 2 assists) and Nik Stauskas (15 points, 4 assists) counteracted a red hot Detroit team that shot 53 percent as a team from the field on the night.

The second half was a much different game as the Pistons seemingly decided to put their foot down against a team that has single digit wins. Detroit is playing for playoff seed, and was not about to let the Sixers spoil their plans. In the final 24 minutes of the game the Pistons went on to outscore the Sixers 73-54. Andre Drummond (19 points, 15 rebounds) kept chipping away and got his 55th double-double of the season.

Isaiah Canaan and his team high 22 points channeled his inner Philly attitude and got into it with Pistons guard Steve Blake. The two were seperated and each given technical fouls.

Midway through the 4th, the Sixers basically accepted defeat and started playing very poor defense. Much of the night they were forced to play small lineups due to the large amount of missing front court players. At one point we even got the chance to argue whether it should be Hollis Thompson, or Nik Stauskas that should be considered the 4. Neither guarded Tobias Harris (21 points, 8 rebounds) particularly well.

It was an entertaining game for the majority of the 48 minutes, but the Sixers once again failed to put together back-to-back wins. They have yet to manage that feat this entire season.

Short-Handed

The Sixers dressed just 10 players tonight. They were especially thin at the center and forward positions with several players out due to injury. Richaun Holmes is nursing an achilles injury, Jerami Grant and Robert Covington are both recovering after a scary collision in their last game againt the Nets, and of course Jahlil Okafor is out for the remainder of the season with a torn Meniscus.

We got to see a few faces that aren’t usual staples in the Sixers rotation including decent outings for Kendall Marshall (7 points, 3 assists) and Elton Brand (10 points, 3 rebounds). We also saw some of the first Sixers action for salary floor signee Sonny Weems.

Standout players

The Old Head came to play tonight yet again! That’s right, even with a crowded front-court filled with top 5 draft picks it was actually 31 year old Carl Landry that was the big-man to watch. After a 16 point outing last night, Landry compiled 18 points shooting 7-13 from the field in 24 minutes. He showed the world he is still capable of leading a team’s front court offensively. Unfortunately his effort was not enough.

For the Pistons, their star point guard Reggie Jackson was once again the driving force of their team’s offense. He scored 24 points on 8-11 shooting, and had 10 dimes. Jackson was seemingly toying with whoever was guarding him tonight. Each of the Sixers guards had their shot to stifle Jackson tonight, but none succeeded. Jackson is one of the very best point guards in the east so this kind of dominance against an 9 win team is pretty much expected.

Dolph Schayes gets his #4 jersey retired

In his 16 year NBA career Adolph Schayes led his team to the playoff for all but one season. He was a Philadelphia athlete from beginning to end starting with the Nats, and then with the succeeding 76ers. Schayes was the first player in NBA history to surpass 15,00 points. During tonights halftime break, a ceremony was held to honor Schayes who sadly past away last December at the age of 87 after a battle with cancer.

Dolph Schayes is unquestionably one of the best players to wear a Sixers jersey finishing third in points all-time on the team just behind Allen Iverson, and Hal Greer. A deserving, (and probably long overdue) hanging of his #4 jersey was very nice to see, and now Schayes’ memory will hang in the rafters forever. Nerlens Noel has addressed the privilege to wear #4 will continue to rock the number in honor of Schayes.

Related Story: Sixer Sense Mock 2016 Draft Board

Back to Brooklyn

Up next for the Sixers are the Brooklyn Nets as they travel to New York on Tuesday. Philly is 3-4 against the Nets this season including a win picked up the other day in their first game sans Okafor for the rest of the season. The Sixers will likely still be in need of depth come Tuesday, but a return of the current concussion protocol participants, may not be totally out of the cards. They will surely need the help if they hope to even the season series.