Well, the vibes just seem to keep finding new ways to get worse. Now with Tyrese Maxey sidelined for a few weeks, on top of Joel Embiid and Paul George’s absences and lingering frustrations from the Jared McCain trade (avoid watching Thunder games if you aren’t already), it pretty much feels like we’re waiting for the Play-In Tournament at this point. The Sixers have tumbled all the way down to ninth in the Eastern Conference at 35-31.
Fortunately for them on Saturday, though, they are at least facing
off a team even further down the rankings. In an early 1-pm tip-off, they’re up against the 17-49 Nets, down at 13th in the East.
And not just a tanking Nets squad — a very shorthanded tanking Nets squad. Nic Claxton (rest), Drake Powell (left knee injury management), Day’Ron Sharpe (left thumb UCL tear), and Egor Demin (left plantar fascia injury management) are all out. Michael Porter Jr. — the offense’s best hope to make something happen — is doubtful with a right ankle sprain.
The Sixers won’t be getting more firepower back either, though. Embiid remains out with his oblique strain and we’ve received no further update from the team, after Nick Nurse had told reporters in Detroit that Embiid would be reevaluated on Friday (Mar. 13). Along with Maxey and George, Kelly Oubre Jr. (left elbow sprain) and Johni Broome (right knee surgery recovery) are also out, with the main center rotation potentially being completely absent too as Adem Bona and Andre Drummond are both questionable with back issues.
The Nets rank 27th in both offensive and defensive rating and are happily tanking, going 2-12 in their last 14 games. They should be highly beatable at both ends, but that just can’t be said about any opponent right now given the state of the Sixers. No result can be taken for granted.
Nevertheless, there hasn’t exactly been lots to get excited about with the Nets this year. Porter Jr. has been efficient as the team’s new leading scorer if he’s available (24.5 points per game on a 59.5 true shooting percentage), and there are some other role players like Sharpe who could be sound contributors to better teams. As Brooklyn has experimented with a range of young players while pursuing higher lottery odds, there are at least candidates to randomly pop on any given night, like Josh Minott who had the game of his career against the Hawks on Thursday.
We’ll see if anyone can do the same in Philly on Saturday, but overall their offense has been poor and this simply isn’t a team trying to win.
As for the Sixers, credit to Cam Payne for stepping up to do what he can in the winning department. His career-high 32 points and 10 dimes with a perfect 8-of-8 mark from three led the Sixers to a win against the Grizzlies this week, and he was solid against vs. the Pistons with 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting. If Payne brings it again on Saturday, that could be key in moving past these Nets.
The burden will really be on the shoulders of VJ Edgecombe to lead the Sixers to a win on Saturday, though, even against an opponent trying to lose. The rookie’s only coming off a 3-of-14 shooting night against the Pistons, but was far more well rounded earlier in the week against Memphis with 21 points, five rebounds, five assists, and three steals. We’ll see if he can be more like the latter this weekend.
It’ll also be interesting to look out for any more strong flashes from Dalen Terry. The 6-foot-6 guard didn’t have the ball too much against Detroit but showed off his footwork and touch around the basket with a few quality drives.
Ultimately, the Sixers can’t be competitive in the playoff picture now. And while some fans will debate whether the team should tank at this point, that may happen unintentionally while they’re this stuck with injuries. Losing Maxey for a while was the All-NBA-sized straw that broke the camel’s back in this case.
But for this weekend at least, the tanking Nets may be one of the team’s the Sixers are facing in the next couple of weeks that is actually beatable.
Game Details
When: Saturday, March 14, 1:00 p.m. ET
Where: Xfinity Mobile Arena, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers
