The second night of a rare preseason back-to-back proved to be less than competitive for the Philadelphia 76ers, who lost to the Boston Celtics by 50 points. The Sixers rested the majority of their starters, while the Celtics, who had the benefit of nearly a week’s rest, played their starters for or around 20 minutes.
After the literal struggle to watch that was the Sixers’ matchup in Iowa against the Timberwolves, this game was difficult to watch in a whole new way. That is not a total surprise, considering Philadelphia was effectively replaced with the Delaware Blue Coats squad. Still, this game was an opportunity to watch many of the Sixers’ young players—of whom they have a shocking amount of for a contender—against truly difficult competition.
Here’s what stood out:
Yabusele may become the third center by default
The Sixers have a very unique situation at their center spot. They have the most dominant big man in the game, and yet, there is an air of uncertainty at the position due to the expectation of time missed.
Veteran big man Andre Drummond was brought into Philadelphia for his second tour with the team. He is unquestionably the greatest backup center the Joel Embiid era Sixers have seen. However, Philadelphia needs a strong third option, given the games Embiid will miss.
Heading into the preseason, there were three contenders for that spot. Adem Bona, the team’s second-round pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, has an impressive skill set and looks to be a player in this league if he maintains his current course. However, in his early opportunities against NBA bodies and talent, it’s clear that further development is needed before he can be relied upon on a near-nightly basis.
KJ Martin has shown off athleticism and has been an active rebounder but has struggled as both a scorer and a defender. This brings us to Yabusele, whose physicality clearly stood out against New Zealand but was in for a bit of a rude awakening against Minnesota. Against Boston, well…
Going up against a seven-plus-footer like Kornet is going to be difficult when you have Yabusele (6’8), Martin (6’6), and Bona (6’10). Still, it was a defensive nightmare for all the big men Philadelphia rolled out tonight.
Looking for the bright side, Bona’s traits again shine through, Martin’s hustle is infectious, and Yabusele is simply the only offensively valuable player of the three. Now, for the center position, defense is key, but with three candidates who equally struggled defensively, Yabusele’s offensive prowess and his tenacity continue to stand out.
He needs to process better defensively, but there is no perfect solution behind Drummond. For now, Yabusele is the Sixers’ best option for the position, but only by default. Philadelphia surely is hoping that the scenario will rarely come up.
Jared McCain continues to show promise
If any Sixers impressed tonight, it was rookie Jared McCain. No player had a truly positive game, as they were boat-raced by the defending champs’ starting lineup for the majority of the game. While his shot was not falling, hitting only one of eight threes, McCain showed himself capable in various ways, not unlike his performance in the Summer League.
McCain is not known as a defender, nor is he a plus defender, but he is a tenacious defender, and that is critical to his success at the next level. McCain also played with a sense of physicality that is also necessary if he is to succeed. He’s not athletic enough to coast into the lane. He has to scratch and claw and fight his way in the paint every time, and he did that early and often against the Celtics, finishing strong against giants like Luke Kornet and All-Defense level players like Derrick White.
Additionally, McCain showed off a level of ball handling that he has not often shown previously. At Duke, there was not much opportunity for McCain to do so in an offense that revolved around big man Kyle Filipowski. With the Sixers, theoretically, he would have the same issue with Joel Embiid, but McCain’s minutes won’t necessarily overlap with Embiid’s as they did with Filipowski.
For a rookie like McCain, it’s less about the total complimentary ball and more about figuring out what he specifically has to work on and whether it is realistic for him to develop those skills. This is where McCain is in the perfect spot.
The Sixers have an assortment of sage small guards. Kyle Lowry remains the ideal vet to speak to regarding a young guard’s development. Tyrese Maxey, while young, has already grown into a leadership position and has seen some transformative growth himself since coming into the league, learning from some of the best, including James Harden. Reggie Jackson has fought nearly his entire career and continues to display a clear understanding of the grind of overcoming one’s shortcomings in the NBA. Finally, Eric Gordon is a great mentor to help McCain understand how to use his strength and expand his range.
Up next for the Sixers
The Sixers will next face the Hawks on Monday down in Atlanta. The NBA’s most recent top overall pick, Zaccharie Risacher, will look to build off of a strong start to the preseason, while Philadelphia will be hoping for the preseason debut of Joel Embiid. Judging by the words of head coach Nick Nurse, it’s far from a certainty that Embiid will join the team.
Tip-off is set for 7:30 on Monday, and you can catch the game on NBA TV or listen live at 97.5 The Fanatic.
