GRADES: Dallas Mavericks 117, Philadelphia 76ers 98
The Philadelphia 76ers come more than short once again against a Doncic-less Dallas Mavericks, totaling their loss streak to three
The Philadelphia 76ers seem to have been solved offensively. The Sixers have lost back to back matches at home and this hasn’t happened since December of last year.
The Sixers had a pretty good start to the game, until they couldn’t find an answer for Tim Hardaway Jr. who had 19 points in the first quarter alone. The second quarter was an even one, and the Mavericks led by six by the half. Meanwhile, Embiid logged an early double-double and looked like the only player showing signs of life for the Sixers.
Coming out of the half, much like the first quarter the Sixers looked good until it all fell apart halfway through the third quarter. They failed to make anything work against the Mavs 3-2 zone defense.
Brett Brown has to take a certain amount of accountability here. The Miami Heat showed the league on Wednesday that a 2-3 zone defense completely shuts down the Sixers offense. Brown had a lot of time to work around that, or adjust in game today. Instead, viewers were left with no answers and a lot of anger.
C. Philadelphia 76ers. JOEL EMBIID. A+. <strong>33 mins | 33 pts | 17 reb | 2 ast | 1 stl | 1 blk | 1 TO | 12-24 FG | 3-7 3PT| 6 – 6 FT | 3 PF |+5 |</strong><p>It’s a shame the Sixers wasted a classic Embiid game on a loss against a team who’s missing their best player. Passing out of double teams, getting boards, 3 threes, one turnover and perfect from the line… Embiid just did it all tonight. The Sixers couldn’t have asked for a better performance from Embiid.</p>
<strong>36 mins | 12 pts | 6 reb | 8 ast | 3 stl | 0 blk | 5 TO | 4-10 FG | 0-0 3PT| 4-7 FT | 3 PF | -14 |</strong><p>Simmons has also logged in a classic Simmons game, but just not in the way you would want him to. Turnovers has always been a concern for Simmons, sometimes looking very careless with his passing. He also took Embiid’s space and showed no signs of life in the half court, again. Simmons finishing poor at the rim is also something that seems more of a trend as of late. Defensively, Simmons played well, as usual.</p>. PG. Philadelphia 76ers. BEN SIMMONS. C
JOSH RICHARDSON. B. <strong>32 mins | 10 pts | 6 reb | 4 ast | 2 stl | 0 blk | 3 TO | 4-8 FG | 2-5 3PT| 0-0 FT | 2 PF | + 6 |</strong><p>Perhaps the only other player to play a decent game. Richardson was the only plus guy alongside Embiid on the starting lineup. Richardson had a solid game overall, nothing game changing. He had a couple nice steals and scored on good efficiency.</p>. SG. Philadelphia 76ers
F. <strong>32 mins | 7 pts | 2 reb | 2 ast | 0 stl | 0 blk | 1 TO | 3-11 FG | 0-4 3PT| 1-3 FT | 1 PF | – 28 |</strong><p>It’s sad the Sixers pay $180 million for a man who can’t take over a game when needed. A man who can’t get hot from three with his open shots. Tobias Harris is a solid player who’s decent all around but not amazing at one particular thing. Tonight he wasn’t good on both ends, shot poorly and let defenders blow by him (team worse -28). Games like these is where Batman (Embiid) needs his Robin. It’s showing more and more why Embiid was so sad with Butler’s departure.</p>. SF. Philadelphia 76ers. TOBIAS HARRIS
Philadelphia 76ers. AL HORFORD. C-. <strong>24 mins | 9 pts | 2 reb | 3 ast | 1 stl | 0 blk | 2 TO | 4 -9 FG | 1-4 3PT| 0 – 0 FT | 4 PF | – 14 |</strong><p>Horford does not look 100 percent healthy out there. Since coming back from injury, he just doesn’t really look like himself out there. He did not play great and looks like he still needs time to get back in form. He will probably have the day off tomorrow versus the Wizards tomorrow since it’s a back to back as well, so he can be well rested against the Bucks.</p>. PF
The bench once again, did not have a great showing. Thybulle had another scoreless game, two in the last three. Ennis wasn’t in rhythm with the three tonight. Korkmaz played decent and maybe could’ve played more, considering Brown tried out his whole bench tonight. Mike Scott was the Sixers best bench player tonight with seven points and five boards.
Next. Sixers were 'Zoned Out'. dark
Hopefully the Brett Brown makes an adjustment to the zone defense — he knows it works against him and he should be fully prepared to play around it tomorrow against the Wizards tomorrow. This three game losing streak is an embarrassing one and it should help fuel them against the most anticipated Christmas day game against the Milwaukee Bucks.