The Philadelphia 76ers couldn’t have predicted they’d only have two wins through their first thirteen games of the season, yet here they are at 2-11 on the season, as they travel to Memphis to take on the Grizzlies. Coming off another tough loss to the Heat on Monday night, the Sixers held a team meeting called by Kyle Lowry in order to right the ship where All-Star Guard Tyrese Maxey challenged Joel Embiid to step up as a leader.
Sixers game information
Who: Philadelphia 76ers (2-11) at Memphis Grizzlies (8-7)
When: 8 p.m. EST
Where: FedEx Forum, Memphis, Tenn.
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia, NBA League Pass
Latest on the Sixers
The Sixers are a team in turmoil right now as they’ve lost four games in a row and haven’t looked in sync once this season. Their last win was back on November 10th where they had to go to overtime to beat the Charlotte Hornets, 107-105. The team has been without center Joel Embiid for most of the season, and when Embiid has played, he’s looked like a shell of the player he’s been over much of his career. The team itself seems lost at times on the court and even with the emergence of rookie guard Jared McCain, they haven’t been able to put together any sort of flow to get them winning games.
After Monday nights loss to the Heat, the Sixers had a team meeting called by veteran Kyle Lowry in which it was reported that Tyrese Maxey called out Embiid for being late to “everything”, which is setting a bad example and leaving teammates with a bad taste in their mouth. Maxey has been working out and has missed six games with a hamstring injury and was moved up to questionable on the injury report for tonights game. If the Sixers are able to have Maxey back to end their four game road trip, it will mark the first time that Maxey, Embiid, and Paul George have suited up together this season.
Regardless of who is on the court for the game, the Sixers need to find some sort of balance as well as a consistent flow on the court. They’re one of worst shooting teams in the league and hold the leagues worst record. If Embiid buys in to what his teammates have said to him and returns to form, the Sixers could be one of the most dominant teams in the league and if he doesn’t, the star-studded roster could be looking at a long season and lottery pick.
Latest on the Grizzlies
The Grizzlies are coming in to tonights game off a loss to the Nuggets on Tuesday night, 122-110 which is their third loss in their last four games. Tonight will be their fifth game in the last week and they could be a bit tired as they face a Sixers team that could be looking to make a statement. On the season, they’re tied with four other teams for 8th place in the Western Conference as the whole West is bunched up with good teams with winning records.
The Grizzlies will be without star, Ja Morant, who’s been out for the past six games with an ankle injury. The update on Morant, as of Tuesday, was that he’s doing better but remains week-to-week and is still out for the foreseeable future. Without Morant, the team has gone 3-3, splitting the past two games with the Nuggets after losing to the Lakers and Warriors last week. While the team obviously needs Morant, they’ve still been good without him.
Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane have been leading the way for a Grizzlies team that features seven players scoring in double digits. Jackson Jr. is leading the team this season in scoring with 22.6 points per game while Bane has been giving the team 16 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. The team has plenty of options when it comes to offense and they’re 5th in the league in total defense. They’re not going to make it easy for the Sixers as they move forward.
What to watch for tonight
The Sixers are a tale of two teams, not knowing who’s going to show up on any given night. That’s metaphorically and physically. Embiid, George, and Maxey have all missed time and when the players are on the court, you’re not sure what you’re going to get, the team that everyone thought would be one of the top teams in the league or the current version that is at the very bottom.
If Embiid has taken the team meeting to heart and understands that his leadership and play go a long way in how the team plays, they could start themselves a good run, especially with the impending return of Maxey and the emergence of Jared McCain. With a completely healthy roster, McCain should be starting every game along with Embiid, George, and Maxey. This would allow the team to use Kelly Oubre Jr. off the bench as well as limiting the minutes of players like Kyle Lowry and Eric Gordon.
Tonight, the hope is that they all start working together and that fans will be able to see what the team envisioned when they signed Paul George in free agency to give them three stars on the floor. McCain has been a bonus as the team features four players that could regularly score 20+ points per game and Kelly Oubre Jr. providing offensive punch off the bench. If they continue the poor shooting, with the exception of McCain, then you can pull your car to the side of the road and look at the train wreck.
Prediction
Sixers 123 – Grizzlies 114
