The Sixer Sense
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RECAP: Memphis Grizzlies 110, Philadelphia 76ers 89

By Luke Swiatek

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 4: Ben Simmons #25 talks with Markelle Fultz #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies during a preseason game on October 4, 2017 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 4: Ben Simmons #25 talks with Markelle Fultz #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies during a preseason game on October 4, 2017 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Philadelphia 76ers‘ first preseason game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Oct. 4 wasn’t very pretty. Let’s hope things improve.

*Note* – This is a pilot for a new format of doing game recaps that The Sixer Sense is considering doing for every game all season. Leave a comment with your feedback on this article, or tweet us your feedback at @SixerSense, @KlineNBA or @LukeSwiatek.

BEN SIMMONS. A-. 21 min | 6 pts | 7 reb | 9 ast | 0 stl | 1 blk | 1 TO | 2-8 FG | 0-3 3PT | 2-2 FT | 0 PF | -10 +/- | Summary: It’s concerning how poor Simmons is at finishing with his left hand, but that’s a minor concern. This team had an identity with him in, and they lost it when he was subbed out. He was also on pace to get a triple double if he’d played typical starter minutes, no big deal. And those passes? Gorgeous.. PF. Philadelphia 76ers

B+. 18 min | 13 pts | 6 reb | 0 ast | 0 stl | 2 blk | 2 TO | 5-6 FG | 0-0 3PT | 3-3 FT | 2 PF | +6 +/- | Summary: Jahlil didn’t start, but he played more minutes than Richaun and had a more positive impact. Okafor may have mostly played against backups, but he used his minutes efficiently and scored like heck. That’s his job and he did it well.. C. Philadelphia 76ers. JAHLIL OKAFOR

B. 21 min | 13 pts | 5 reb | 0 ast | 2 stl | 1 blk | 0 TO | 4-11 FG | 4-10 3PT | 1-2 FT | 1 PF | +0 +/- | Summary: Covington’s game was proof that you don’t have to shoot a good percentage from the floor if you just only take threes. His form looked good, which is encouraging considering his inconsistency from deep last season.. SF. Philadelphia 76ers. ROBERT COVINGTON

J.J. REDICK. C+. 21 min | 11 pts | 2 reb | 1 ast | 0 stl | 1 blk | 1 TO | 4-7 FG | 2-2 3PT | 1-1 FT | 1 PF | +3 +/- | Summary: I’d like to see Redick do a bit more than just shoot, and his secondary playmaking left much to be desired. Yet despite his sloppy play, he did shoot well from deep and drew the defense out of the paint.. SG. Philadelphia 76ers

D-. 22 min | 4 pts | 2 reb | 3 ast | 0 stl | 0 blk | 1 TO | 2-13 FG | 0-3 3PT | 0-0 FT | 2 PF | -13 +/- | Summary: Um, yikes. Fultz’s shot wasn’t falling, and no one was biting on his herky-jerky pump fakes. McConnell ran the offense significantly better than Fultz, and Fultz didn’t really contribute in any secondary areas either. Rough game from start to finish.. PG. Philadelphia 76ers. MARKELLE FULTZ

Well, I sure hope this game isn’t indicative of the 76ers season. If we want to be a playoff team, we’re going to have to do much better. We got demolished by the post-Grit n’ Grind Grizzlies, and they didn’t even have Mike Conley or Marc Gasol.

Commentators Marc Zumoff and Alaa Abdelnaby noted that the 76ers looked decent on offense, but flat on defense. The Grizzlies hit the offensive boards hard, snuck in for easy backdoor cuts and generally just made the Sixers look unprepared on defense.

Brett Brown will probably have a fit when he looks at the film and sees all the easy points they gave up, but the offense is encouraging at least. Here’s to hoping that the defensive struggles will be fixed over time with improved chemistry,  and that Fultz finds his jumper.

Come back soon, Joel.

Previous game recaps

We don’t have any yet, this is the first! In the future, we may put an extra page here with links to all the previous games, so you have a well-organized mini database for any game you’ve missed all season.

We hope this will bring you guys back every day for quick, easily accessible content when you’ve been too busy to see a game (or just to read my lovely writing and hear my takes). This is all we have for now, thanks for your feedback!

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