Philadelphia will get to show off their newest and best acquisition to date, Paul George, as the Sixers take on the Timberwolves tonight. Normally, a showdown with the Timberwolves would be a game that lots of people in the league would be watching, considering the stars on both sides, but not tonight. The game will take place at the Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa. You read that correctly. And with that being the case, only the in-arena broadcast will stream.
Sixers game information
Who: Philadelphia 76ers at Minnesota Timberwolves
When: 7:00 p.m. EST
Where: Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines, IA
Watch: I think you’re all aware of what you need to do
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Let’s get this out of the way right off the bat. Joel Embiid didn’t travel with the team. He’s not playing tonight, and the team will decide when Embiid will be suitable for the preseason. The news that he’s seeing someone for his knee has been referred to as a regularly scheduled appointment; someone who has had knee surgery in the past year probably should be doing these things. Embiid is also coming off of an appearance in the Olympics, so a little extra rest for the best player on the team is warranted.
Paul George and Tyrese Maxey
What you will see tonight is Paul George and Tyrese Maxey. You may not “see” them unless you’re in Iowa, but you get the idea. The two remaining parts of the Sixers’ three-headed monster will be suiting up together for the first time, and it should be interesting to see how they work together. For PG8, he’s adapted well to being a veteran who can provide skill and talent but understands that, at 34 years old, he’s not the same player he was just a few years back.
That’s not to say that George won’t be counted on to contribute a huge role for this Sixers team. He’s been looked at as the missing piece of the puzzle that gets the Sixers over their playoff hump and closer to a league championship. While it’s still the pre-season, this is a small step toward building that flow and structure that will be carrying the team to success during the regular season.
Can Guerschon Yabusele continue to impress?
Yabusele is making his return to the NBA after a five-year absence. After a successful stint at the Olympic level, the Sixers signed him late in August, and he’s made a good impression to this point. Against the New Zealand Breakers, in the Sixers preseason opener, Yabusele had 15 points on 6-6 shooting from the field in only 17 minutes.
With the Sixers roster filled with players like George, Maxey, Caleb Martin, Kelly Oubre Jr., Ricky Council IV, and others, having Yabusele could be useful as a center in smaller lineups when Joel Embiid is on the bench. He can also play as a big power forward, if needed, either beside Andre Drummond or Embiid. As a player, Yabusele has developed quite a bit, and with his showing against some of the NBA’s best at the Olympics this past summer, bringing in a player like that with momentum, talent, and a desire to show what he can do, can only be a positive for the Sixers.
McCain to get more minutes against the Wolves?
Rookie Jared McCain played 28 minutes against the New Zealand Breakers, with 15 points and seven rebounds for the night. While his 5-14 shooting may not seem ideal, the youngster is going to take a little bit of time to get into the flow of the NBA and understand what his role with the Sixers will be. If he continues to shoot 4-9 on his three-point attempts, there’s no doubt that Head Coach Nick Nurse will find a spot in the rotation for the rookie.
Just last week, Nurse was asked about McCain. “I continue to really like him,” said coach Nick Nurse of McCain. “Listen, he’s got a really good IQ for the game. His toughness level is up there, man. He’s a scrapper. He really works at the defensive end. He’s really one of those guys, too, you’re like ‘Man, there’s a big pile over there and he comes out with the ball, and how did he do that?’ Well, he’s just one of those guys that does it. I don’t know how he does it, but he’s one of those guys that has that knack and nose for that.”
For a coach who’s not particularly known for running and counting on rookies, that counts as high praise. Each day that McCain is on the floor with the Sixers, he’s getting better and learning more. Having players like PG3, Eric Gordon, and Reggie Jackson on the squad can give him veteran leadership, information, and tutoring.
Having Tyrese Maxey on the same team may be even more beneficial. Like Maxey, people may have slept on McCain a little in the draft, and he can come in with an intense desire to learn, become better, and show that teams made a mistake in not drafting him. Having Maxey, who’s been able to skyrocket to stardom with talent and that killer mentality, can only benefit McCain. Time will tell, but from the early showings, McCain looks to be another gem for the Sixers.
