The Philadelphia 76ers split their recent home games against the Indiana Pacers and Phoenix Suns. Now, they’ll look to bounce back against one of the tougher opponents on the schedule in the Houston Rockets.
Houston has put together a unique and dynamic roster. They added a marquee name in Kevin Durant, who is putting up some of the best numbers of his career from both a scoring and efficiency standpoint. But the Rockets’ identity goes beyond Durant. They’ve built a frankly massive team across the board.
Amen Thompson has been starting at point guard, standing at 6-foot-7 with a huge frame. The Rockets have rotated starters depending on matchup and availability, but the core usually includes Durant, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr., and another big wing such as Tari Eason or Josh Okogie.
Thompson has taken steps as a playmaker, but he’s far from a traditional point guard. And as the starting lineup suggests, this is far from a traditional team. There really hasn’t been a roster constructed quite like this in the modern NBA. Houston has found success overwhelming teams on the glass, creating extra possessions through offensive rebounds and second-chance opportunities. That’s an area where the Sixers could struggle in this matchup.
On the flip side, that same unconventional makeup has also led to issues. The Rockets have dropped games they probably shouldn’t have, and their offense can bog down and become stagnant at times. The size and inconsistent shooting have allowed teams to crowd Sengun, who doesn’t always have the spacing needed to operate comfortably. Reed Sheppard is an important piece for floor spacing, but inconsistencies on both ends and head coach Ime Udoka’s rotations have kept him from having the impact the team likely hoped for in his second year.
As many know, the Sixers are a guard-centric team that typically plays smaller lineups. That makes this matchup a true clash of opposing roster builds. Tyrese Maxey is coming off a rough stretch, shooting 7-of-25 from the field and struggling in the recent games against Cleveland. This figures to be another tough test, as the Rockets have no shortage of long, physical wing defenders capable of making life difficult for him. On top of that, their size and length can bother him around the rim and shrink driving lanes when help arrives.
This matchup will also test Maxey’s running mates, Joel Embiid and Paul George, both of whom are likely to return. For Embiid, Sengun presents a physical matchup as a mobile big who can score and create from the perimeter. For George, he’ll likely see plenty of Durant on the other end, which needs little explanation. It’s also likely that Kelly Oubre Jr. sees extended time matched up against the future Hall of Famer.
For the Sixers, Embiid is listed as probable while managing an ankle issue, while George is questionable with knee injury management. Houston will be without Steven Adams, who is sidelined with an ankle sprain, and Fred VanVleet as he continues his recovery from an ACL tear. Aaron Holiday, who has taken on extra minutes in the backcourt, is also questionable heading into this matchup.
The Rockets are a talented team in a crowded Western Conference, and this won’t come easily. Still, if the Sixers can pull it off, it would mark another important win against a legitimate opponent. Beyond that, they need to start taking care of business at home if they want a comfortable path to the postseason. This game could be a chance to finally get things moving in the right direction.
Game Details
When: Thursday, January 22, 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers
