TSS writer Ken Jaskulski chronicles recent Philadelphia 76ers happenings.
DEAR SIXER DIARY — The Week in Review — Feb. 19-25
- THURSDAY, February 22 (at Chicago, W 116-115)
A team usually loses when they give up almost 70 points in a half, shoot only 21-35 from the foul line, and give up 38 points to Bobby Portis. The Philadelphia 76ers edged Chicago because the Sixers’ stars played like stars (Embiid 30 points, 13 rebounds and five assists and Simmons 32 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists while sinking two clutch free throws with five seconds left).
The Sixers committed only nine turnovers and 17 fouls, which are critical road winning statistics. In a head scratching moment, T.J. McConnell was in the game with four seconds remaining defending Bobby Portis, who is eight inches taller.
Chicago saw the mismatch and threw a lob pass to Portis who missed an easy shot. The Sixers were lucky to get out of Chicago with a win, but any win is a good win.
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- SATURDAY, February 24 (Orlando, W 116-105)
A sign that the Sixers are progressing is they handily won a game that they were expected to win. The Sixers bench played well and outperformed their Orlando bench counterparts. The game got scary at the end as Brett Brown left his bench in to close the game out. Brown wanted to limit his starters’ minutes, due to a back to back game against Washington the following evening.
Against Orlando, the outside shooters shot well with J.J. Redick and Marco Belinelli combining for 31 points on 12-20 shooting and adding up to a +25 while on the court.
- SUNDAY, February 25 (At Washington, L 109-94)
This was a game the Sixers were really never in. Washington came out played with more energy and shot well (54 percent) and was up 18 at the half. Washington, without John Wall in their lineup, now runs a motion offense, which is harder for a team to defend.
Other than Embiid (25 points, 10 Rebounds, four assists, five turnovers) the Sixers seemed flat and a step slow. Ben Simmons put up good numbers (16 points, eight rebounds and eight assists), however Simmons was out of the game when Washington pulled away in the second quarter.
Washington may have the blue print to defeat the Sixers in a playoff series. Offensively, Washington’s guard penetration caused problems as the Sixers defenders had trouble staying in front of their assignments (Redick -21, Covington -13 and McConnell -13).
Defensively, Washington played the Sixers tight which forced the Sixer players to protect the ball and dribble to relieve pressure. Even Joel Embiid had to work hard offensively and made some tough shots over Marcin Gortat. The Washington “in your face” defensive style of play forced the Sixers to shoot only 36 percent.
Redick usually is not effective on the second night of a back-to-back and the Washington game was no exception. He shot only 20 percent with three turnovers.
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The lone bright spot was provided by Richaun Holmes, who scored seven points, provided energy and was a +12 while on the court. As of this writing the 76ers are in seventh place, half a game behind Milwaukee and three games in front of Miami in the loss column, who they play Tuesday, Feb. 27