The Sixer Sense
Fansided

What went wrong against the Heat?

By Ken Jaskulski

MIAMI, FL - MARCH 8: Robert Covington #33 of the Philadelphia 76ers passes the ball against the Miami Heat on March 8, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. 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 Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 8: Robert Covington #33 of the Philadelphia 76ers passes the ball against the Miami Heat on March 8, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. 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 Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Philadelphia 76ers fell to a playoff-caliber opponent on the road yet again. What’s the issue?

Another playoff-bound opponent on the road, another loss.

The Philadelphia 76ers lost to Miami for three reasons: First and foremost, Hassan Whiteside totally outplayed Joel Embiid. Embiid shot only 5-18 and mostly played away from the basket. Whiteside is the one center in the east that can match Embiid physically and challenge his shot.

It did not help Embiid’s cause when he drove by Whiteside and drew an obvious foul on his shooting arm that the ref decided not to call it. If the ref makes the obvious foul call that up-court confrontation featuring Whiteside’s phantom neck snap doesn’t happen and Embiid doesn’t pick up his fourth foul.

Embiid has hit his rookie wall. He just played in his 53 game this season averaging over 31 minutes per game. He’s tired and it shows on his foul shooting (4-7, 57 percent) and his lack of energy. This happens to all rookies. Embiid is still playing injury free and he’ll improve come playoff time.

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More concerning is that in the second half Ben Simmons only took one shot. Simmons has to understand that he is needed to score on this team, especially when Embiid isn’t playing well.

Third and equally concerning is Brett Brown again failing to pull players when they are under-performing. Robert Covington, after one fantastic game in Charlotte, returned to season form and again was horrible offensively.

The worst part is that Covington wasn’t just missing three-point attempts, but also drives to the basket and close-in shots. Good defense on Goran Dragic shouldn’t be enough to justify Covington’s stat line: three points on 0-10 shooting and a plus-minus of -18 while playing 30 minutes.

Dario Saric was a -16, however Saric was one of the few players that was offensively efficient.

Brown mismanaged his bench at the end of the first half, having both Embiid and Simmons off the court. The Sixers were lucky to only lose six points during that span.

A defensive problem is the Sixers run out too hard to challenge three-point shots and many times Miami would fake the shot and drive the ball to the basket and either finish at the rim or pass to a better look three (14-26).

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At least Brown is finally realizing that he needs to limit T.J. McConnell to 20 minutes max and that still wasn’t enough this game. Next: Sunday at Brooklyn.