The Philadelphia 76ers continued their Western Conference swing, facing the Los Angeles Clippers in Paul George’s homecoming to Southern California. The now-Sixers star faced his former team for the first time since coming over to Philadelphia in free agency but was unable to get the win in front of his former crowd.
Before the game even began, the Clipper crowd made sure George knew of their disdain for him and his decision to leave this offseason. Booing him every time he touched the ball, there was no love loss between the fans and their former star. Despite the home crowd’s opinion, George has remained on good terms with both of his star former teammates, Kawhi Leonard and former Sixer James Harden, whom he was catching up with prior to the game.
As the game began, the two sides were relatively even, going shot for shot as both teams tried to establish an edge. Heading into halftime, the score would be tied, and there was some hope that the team could overcome LA and, at long last, earn their second win.
A frankly hideous third-quarter effort unfortunately put the game out of reach, and the game was over seemingly in an instant. There’s so much to negatively take away from this matchup, but here’s a quick recap.
What the hell happened to Caleb Martin
Looking at the boxscore, Caleb Martin was ostensibly “fine” in this matchup—aside from his terrible night at the line. Those who watched the game, though, know his evening was far more disappointing.
One of the major issues the Sixers have faced this season is having to play role players in significantly higher-leverage positions than they are made for; Caleb Martin is a prime example of this. Martin is playing more minutes than ever (34 per game) and taking more shots than ever (9.3 per game), and that doesn’t even factor in his increased activity at the line. That increase in responsibility has been much for Martin to handle, especially without a functioning offensive scheme around him.
Compound that with an inexplicable adjustment in Martin’s shot throughout the night, and you have a recipe for disaster.
https://x.com/SixersJustin/status/1854389237379965063
As far as how to fix this, assuming Martin is not injured and the shot change is not a result of compensating through the pain, the simple solution is to continue to incorporate more players who are better built for carrying the offensive load. This means, first and foremost, the continued gradual improvement of Paul George, both in minutes played and shots taken, and the incorporation of some of the Sixers’ younger guns, but more on that in a minute.
Yet another injury for the Sixers
Just when it seemed things could not get worse for Philadelphia, Tyrese Maxey, the team’s young star who has been the only healthy star this season, came up with a sore hamstring and missed the entire fourth quarter. Seen limping from the court to the locker room, it was not an encouraging look for Maxey.
After the game, Nick Nurse told reporters that Maxey was experiencing “hamstring tightness” and that he would be checked out, according to USA Today’s Ky Carlin.
The Sixers cannot afford another star to miss any time, as Joel Embiid is still continuing to serve his three-game suspension for his part in the Marcus Hayes incident. Embiid has yet to play a single game for Philadelphia; Paul George remains on a minutes restriction, and now a potential lingering injury for Maxey. Things are not sunny in Philadelphia at the moment.
It’s time for a change
No longer can the team be handcuffed to the stiffness of Eric Gordon and Caleb Martin. Both players provide a certain sense of craftiness and theoretical shot-making ability, but they are being far overtaxed, and the results are far from pretty. It’s time to give time to Jared McCain and Ricky Council IV consistently.
What McCain and Council both do that nearly the rest of the roster appears unable, or at least unwilling, to do is move off the ball and, more than anything, work the ball into the paint. Neither is afraid of contact nor is afraid to drive toward the hoop and that not only helps create solid shot opportunities for themselves but opens up the floor for the rest of the roster.
The Sixers’ daycare, as I am dubbing them in a completely original way, cannot be counted on to save the Sixers. However, they can certainly help improve the situation, giving the stars, who must be relied upon, the opportunity to be the true difference makers.
Up next for the Sixers
The road trip concludes with a matchup against LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday, Nov. 8, with tip-off set for 10 p.m.
They will once again be without Joel Embiid, and despite Nick Nurse claiming taking Maxey out was just a precaution, with this team’s history disguising injuries, who knows what will happen.
