3 takeaways from the 76ers’ win over the Memphis Grizzlies

My second takeaway is that the team faired well overall on the perimeter after witnessing Desmond Bane’s mesmerizing first quarter. Dynamic and versatile perimeter players in particular give the Sixers’ defense fits. The perimeter defense mainly consists of average to below–average defenders. Tyrese Maxey, James Harden, and Tobias Harris more often than not fall in this class, Teams know this and will want to exploit this.

That’s why a game against Memphis with their excellent guard tandem in Ja Morant and Desmond Bane is a considerable test for the Sixers’ defense. Grizzlies shooting guard Desmond Bane torched the Sixers so badly in the first quarter for a career 21 points on 7 of 8 shooting from the field. Bane can be efficient and explosive with his dribble drives when attacking a closeout to get into the painted area for his floater game.

Thankfully from the Sixers’ perspective, the game kind of played itself out of this flurry of Desmond Bane’s quick scoring. Bane uses his shooting as the biggest weapon of his offense as he lures players into believing he will let it fly. This tactic allows Bane to get open on cuts and to his spot for drives. Bane did his job early but could’ve added more as he finished with 25 points. Kudos to the Philadelphia defense and the law of averages. Ja Morant did not fare well against a Sixers’ defense led by Joel Embiid. Morant continuously put tremendous pressure on the rim as all but two of the shots were outside the paint and those shots were three-pointers. The high-flying point guard relentlessly attacked Embiid and the center was there each time to deter the shot. The guards did well giving Morant a tough way to the rim and were funneled toward Embiid.