GRADES: Sixers scorched by Blazers; starting 5’s first loss
By Sam Coltrane
All good things came to an end as the Philadelphia 76ers starting unit dropped their first game of the season to Carmelo Anthony and the Portland Trailblazers.
Both teams came out firing to start the game in what would prove to be a back-and-forth affair all night. Joel Embiid kicked off the scoring for the Sixers, followed immediately by a Damian Lillard 33-foot 3-pointer in response for Portland.
Lillard wasn’t done as he would go on to score 19 points in the quarter, including six trips down the floor resulting in three points. Despite Lillard’s explosion, Philadelphia trailed only by one entering the second quarter thanks to 13 in the first from an attacking Ben Simmons.
The second quarter played tightly as well, albeit with less offense. Portland maintained a single-digit lead for most of the quarter with an Anfernee Simons floater giving them a 58-50 lead with 4:43 remaining. Then Philadelphia decided to clamp up. The team allowed only two Lilllard free throws the rest of the way as an Embiid buzzer beater concluded the 13-2 run and sent Philadelphia to the locker room leading 63-60.
Despite any halftime adjustments, the third quarter played out much like the half preceding. Philadelphia extended their lead to eight, but never more as Portland clawed to keep it close. A horrible Dwight Howard foul gave Harry Giles III two free throws to close the quarter 93-89, Philadelphia.
Philadelphia, 14-0 this season when their opening night starters took the floor together, fell victim to a throwback Anthony takeover. Anthony would score 17 in the quarter, with 15 coming in a seemingly unstoppable five-minute span as Portland leveraged the offense to the tune of a 17-6 run giving them a 108-101 lead.
A quick run by Philadelphia tied the game at 109 and eventually again at 112 behind a Seth Curry triple setting up Portland with a tie game and the shot clock turned off.
Philadelphia, having a foul to give, waited until the five second mark to commit the foul in hopes of stymieing Portland into a tough, last-second shot. Unfortunately, Portland never even needed to attempt a shot.
With Simmons latched to Lillard’s hip, Anthony inbounded to former-76er Robert Covington before getting it right back and immediately attacking from the basket. Harris tried to slide his feet but couldn’t get there in time as the refs called the blocking foul sending Anthony to the line.
Down two, Philadelphia with a chance to tie it or send it to overtime… lost the ball on a steal from Covington, icing the win for Portland 118-114.
A. <strong>35 mins | 35 pts | 9 reb | 3 ast | 0 stl | 2 blk | 3 TO | 13-25 FG | 1-2 3PT| 8-11 FT | 3 PF | +9 |</strong><p>Even in a loss, Embiid was the most impressive player on the court for either team. Approaching a career-high 30 points per game, Embiid is scoring at will while slashing 55/38/85. MVPs perform at a high-level every single night. While this wasn’t Embiid’s best game, he was still the best player on the floor and as dominant a scorer as there is in the league right now.</p>. C. Philadelphia 76ers. JOEL EMBIID
PG. Philadelphia 76ers. BEN SIMMONS. A+. <strong>37 mins | 23 pts | 11 reb | 9 ast | 1 stl | 1 blk | 1 TO | 10-12 FG | 0-0 3PT| 3-3 FT | 3 PF | +7 |</strong><p>Simmons came out aggressive and it paved the way for his entire game. Simmons defensive prowess is no longer understated. He appears as though he’ll be a perennial contender for DPOY. Yet, tonight was as much about his first quarter offense. 23/11/9, on 10/12 shooting. It is more likely a dream than reality that Simmons finds success away from the hoop, but consistent aggression like tonight’s first quarter will be the next step in unlocking Simmons potential.</p>
<strong>38 mins | 17 pts | 6 reb | 5 ast | 0 stl | 1 blk | 1 TO | 4-12 FG | 0-5 3PT| 9-9 FT | 2 PF | -14 |</strong><p>Harris played a bad game by his standards this season. That is a great thing for Philadelphia fans. Tonight, Harris’ three-point shot abandoned him and he still backed into 17/6/5 on 12 shots.</p><p>This offseason many people, myself included, were either working the trade machines on Harris or arguing his contract was nearly untradable. Now he is competing for an all-star spot and his bad games produce lines like above.</p><p>No, tonight wasn’t a great Harris game. What it was is a great reminder that Harris continues to get better every year and this year is no exception.</p>. PF. Philadelphia 76ers. TOBIAS HARRIS. B-
<strong>35 mins | 15 pts | 4 reb | 2 ast | 0 stl | 0 blk | 0 TO | 6-13 FG | 3-7 3PT| 0-0 FT | 1 PF | +9 |</strong><p>Daryl Morey traded out fine players who were bad fits for less talented, better suited players to complement the stars. That move has played out excellently. Curry won’t bring the defense Richardson provided last year, and in a vacuum probably isn’t as talented. It doesn’t matter. Curry’s shooting has unleashed Embiid, given Simmons more space to drive, and he is plainly one of the best shooters the league has to offer.</p>. SG. Philadelphia 76ers. SETH CURRY. B+
Philadelphia 76ers. DANNY GREEN. C-. <strong>31 mins | 5 pts | 4 reb | 0 ast | 2 stl | 0 blk | 1 TO | 2-4 FG | 1-3 3PT| 0-0 FT | 3 PF | +3 |</strong><p>Then comes Danny Green. Green has long been a player who’s impact stretched beyond the box score. He plays tough, active defense. Green still shoots better than league average and is still the only back-to-back champion in the NBA. His age is starting to really rear its ugly head, though.</p><p>Green is slashing 39/36/71, a career-worst free throw percentage and some of the worst field goal averages of his career. Philadelphia will be patient and doesn’t appear to need massive changes, but the size of Green’s contract and the discernible difference in value he brings relative to the other starters, I’m sure has Morey searching for better answers.</p>. SF
Portland will have a quick turnaround when they host the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight on the second leg of a back-to-back. Philadelphia will head down to Phoenix to face off against the Suns on Saturday as their starters look to get back to move past their first loss of the season as starting unit.
Next. 15 greatest playoff moments in franchise history. dark