The Sixer Sense
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Dear Sixer Diary – Week of Feb. 26-March 4

By Ken Jaskulski

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 2: Logo of the Philadelphia 76ers during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on March 2, 2018 at the 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 2: Logo of the Philadelphia 76ers during the game against the Charlotte Hornets on March 2, 2018 at the 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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TSS writer Ken Jaskulski dishes on the last week of Philadelphia 76ers basketball.

Dear Sixer Diary — The Week In Review — Feb. 26-March 4

  • TUESDAY, February 27 (at Miami, L 102-101)

This was a disappointing loss because the Philadelphia 76ers were in control most of the game and could not close out. We did not lose because Ben Simmons only made one of two foul shots or J.J. Redick missed a wide open jumper at the end. Shots get missed.

We did not close the game out because Simmons and Dario Saric gave Miami five free points by fouling Dwyane Wade by going for pump fakes. The other problem was Brett Brown not adjusting to Dwyane Wade killing us down the stretch. Wade was responsible for Miami’s last 17 points of the game. Any coach should know when an opposing player continues to score against your team, make him give up the ball and let someone else beat you. There’s this basketball play called a double team or trap.

It didn’t help that the game had to be officiated with only two officials because Rodney Mott left the game with an injury. The Sixers missed Joel Embiid for extra minutes because official Lauren Holtcamp called a phantom foul on Embiid when Kelly Olynyk simply fell down. Where does Adam Silver find these officials?

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  • THURSDAY, March 1 (at Cleveland, W 108-97)

This was a good team win because multiple players contributed. Embiid was the star (17 points and 14 rebounds) and made a tough fade away shot to close out the game at the end. Everyone contributed as Simmons was close to a triple-double, Redick shot well and both Saric and Covington had double-doubles. The Sixers surely put on a fine audition for LeBron James, assuming he may have interest in joining the Sixers next season.

  • FRIDAY, March 2 (v.s. Charlotte, W 110-99)

Good teams find a way to win the second game of a back-to-back and fifth game in seven nights. Newsflash — the Sixers are now a good team.

Dwight Howard must be one of the lowest I.Q. players of all-time. It’s one thing to get fooled on Embiid’s swim move once, but three times? The addition of Ersan Ilyasova may limit Amir Johnson and Richaun Holmes‘ minutes. Brown at times played a three forward lineup with Saric, Covington and Ilyasova together when Embiid was on the bench. The three forward lineup can be a good move because all three forwards can shoot the three ball, making that lineup difficult to defend.

  • SUNDAY, March 4 (at Milwaukee, L 118-110)

This was a bad combination of too many turnovers and bad coaching. It’s hard to win a game when your starters have almost 20 turnovers between them, with your two best players leading the way with 13 turnovers between them.

Milwaukee had 25 more shot attempts and only 13 turnovers to our 26. In addition, Brett Brown let the game get out of control in the third quarter when he did not pull T.J. McConnell and either Amir Johnson and or Ilyasova sooner. This game would have been a good spot for Richaun Holmes. It was a shame to waste a great offensive game by Saric.

  • COACHING AND GM

Brett Brown is now using Marco Belinelli as first sub off the bench. T.J. is just too limited both offensively and defensively. Playoff teams will be placing T.J. McConnell in pick-and-roll and switching situations when he is playing, which forces our defense to help him and scramble to recover.

Next: Dear Sixer Diary - Week of Feb. 19-25

Bryan Colangelo has added two nice bench players in Belinelli and Ilyasova. Can someone explain why the Sixers only have two true point guards (one being Simmons) on the team, when most teams carry three? My guess is that Brown doesn’t want to bring in anyone that might potentially cut T.J.’s minutes.  If Simmons goes down we are in trouble.