The Sixer Sense Podcast returns following two games against the Chicago Bulls. The Philadelphia 76ers’ 8-game winning streak came to an end in the first of the two games with a 109-105 double overtime loss. Joel Embiid fouled out, but scored 37 points and secured 16 rebounds in 44 minutes. The big takeaway from this game though was James Harden’s struggles. Harden shot 2-14 from the field and 0-6 from three-point range, his worst shooting performance in a regular season game since 2015. Was this game just a one-off or should we be concerned about Harden?
Chicago hosted the Sixers in the second game on Wednesday night and this was a tale of two games. The Sixers started the game on a 17-0 run and by halftime had a lead of 76-48! Harden did not play, but in his place, De’Anthony Melton stepped up. Melton had 25 points on 8-16 shooting and was 4-9 from three-point range. Tobias Harris continued to shoot very efficiently scoring 20 points on 9 shots and adding 9 rebounds and 8 assists. This game, however, was all about Joel Embiid.
Embiid did not come out of the locker room for the second half, which at first may not have seemed too concerning. What was weird though was that it took the broadcast close to 20 minutes to tell the audience what was going on and when they did they said it was due to load management/rest. Load management is a hot topic in the NBA, but no player has ever load-managed half of a game, especially considering Embiid is working hard for the MVP award. He played in back-to-back games last week, so this did not add up. After the game, Keith Pompey tweeted that “mid-right calf tightness” was what kept Embiid out, and that he is expected to play Friday. Do the guys think this could be serious for Embiid?
Lucas Johnson, Christopher Kline, and Jonathan Geib close the podcast by discussing all the former 76ers currently in the league and debating whether or not the players are better or worse off since they left the Sixers. Some all-time favorites are on this list and you will want to give this one a listen!
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