“Gray hairs, I’m aging quicker than I thought I’d be.”
Is that Jermaine reflecting on societal change or another Sixers loss?
After getting the doors blown off the Center Thursday night, the Sixers returned to their home court Saturday night for a matchup against the Brooklyn Nets. Coming into the night, both Atlantic Division squads sat at an uninspiring 20-35, but just a single game behind the Chicago Bulls for the tenth seed in the East.
Philadelphia has insisted that they are not far away from proving themselves as a contender, but the reality is that the Sixers are now 0-6 since Daryl Morey’s infamous squinting quote. Joel Embiid hasn’t played in the fourth quarter in the team’s last two games, in part because the Sixers were down 26 entering the fourth against Boston. However, the decision is still curious as Paul George remained on the court despite the blowout.
The Sixers began this matchup against Brooklyn by giving up 40 points to the Nets, electing to do anything but protect the rim. Nets sharpshooter Cam Johnson could buy a bucket from deep, making just one of nine attempts from three.
Nearly all of Brooklyn’s roster is an effective island of misfit toys. Killian Hayes, who started for the Nets tonight, was unemployed as of Thursday.
Still, they play with a level of toughness and intensity that few teams can rival, and that level of effort can elevate them above mediocre and worse teams, like the Sixers, who the Nets have beaten twice in the last three games.
A fourth-quarter push that came with Yabusele in Embiid’s place added some interest to the game, to the point that the Nets had to win on a Nic Claxton last-second putback. The usage of Yabu made sense, considering Embiid’s rough minutes cap of around 30 minutes and the poor play of Andre Drummond.
If Philadelphia wants to compete moving forward, playing Yabusele at center and utilizing Adem Bona as his backup may be the best option available, although no matter how much you squint, that lineup isn’t putting fear in the hearts of the best the East has to offer.
Up next for the Sixers
Philadelphia will next host the Chicago Bulls on Monday, Feb. 24, with an opportunity for both teams to either climb closer to the play-in at long last or fall even closer to the bottom of the standings. The Bulls are coming off of a loss to the Phoenix Suns and have lost six straight games.
Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. You can catch the game on NBC Sports Philadelphia or, as always, listen live at 97.5 FM, the Fanatic.
