Philadelphia 76ers streak and Toronto Raptors streaks continue. Raptors win their sixth, 76ers lose their fifth. Raptors 102 76ers 86
Brother, can I buy a win? It seems as though the Philadelphia 76ers have taken off for Christmas vacation. The team has lost its fifth straight, keeping with the theme of not playing well since December 2017 began. For this month, the 76ers are two wins and nine losses. And through it all, the losing streak is breaking the hearts of hopeful Philadelphia 76ers fans.
This was one more game with a very familiar theme: bad free throw shooting, poor three-point shooting, excessive turnovers, and committing too many fouls. Same old same old. The heartbreaking part is that this is the same contributors, the same “excuses”, and nothing changes.
And that hurts.
Turnovers and poor shooting remain the theme
.
Four of five starters had three or more turnovers. Only Jerryd Bayless, with two turnovers, had fewer than three. Complicating the poor turnover performance, the team shot 65 percent from the foul line.
Raptors close 3rd Q on 13-0 run, take 81-63 lead into 4th. pic.twitter.com/1Pn1nSw2hg
— brianseltzer (@brianseltzer) December 23, 2017
The Philadelphia 76ers had streaks within the streak. Surprisingly, on a night where Joel Embiid struggled and the team appeared listless, energy-packed Richaun Holmes gathered just four minutes.
Short of weapons
But the struggle of Joel Embiid was a result of Toronto double teaming. Before the game, the team announced J.J. Redick would not play. Once more, the team played very short handed.
Joel Embiid is officially listed as questionable for tonight vs. Toronto. J.J. Redick is doubtful. #Sixers pic.twitter.com/g4ObQbLiUX
— Marshall Harris (@mharrisonair) December 23, 2017
Entering the game, the Philadelphia 76ers did not have the services of J.J. Redick, Furkan Korkmaz, Markelle Fultz, Justin Anderson, plus that unfilled roster spot. So many charge the losses on the head coach Brett Brown. I am surprised by this.
Bryan Colangelo neglecting the Philadelphia 76ers badly
Where is the outrage for a general manager who trades two players for one, and three weeks later has YET to fill the open roster spot? That is compounded by the season ending injury to rookie wing Furkan Korkmaz. All the while, the team is battling injuries to the point where there team is only playing with 2/3rds of the roster healthy enough to play. Why are you content with this Philadelphia?
Asking for a friend.
Bonus Grade
Quick Notes:
J.J. Redick’s hamstring injury could not happen at a worse time for the Philadelphia 76ers. Without him, the team has little perimeter threat. That allows teams to double on Embiid routinely.
Markelle Fultz’s absence is a mystery. With an open roster spot since trading Jahlil Okafor and Nik Stauskas, the hope was for the team to see Fultz on the court sooner than later. Why trade two players who could contribute from an already thin roster?
Next: Dario Saric questions the Sixers’ toughness
Philadelphia president Bryan Colangelo’s contentment with an open roster spot through this 2 win 9 loss streak is thunderous neglect for a young team. Is the temptation for a high draft pick in a loaded 2018 NBA Draft too much to resist for the 76ers executive?
Previous Game Recaps:
L, New Orleans 131– Philadelphia 124
W, Philadelphia 118– Minnesota 112
L, Oklahoma City 119 — Philadelphia 117
Second L, Chicago 117 — Philadelphia 115