NBA 2019 76ers
NBA 2019 76ers -Okay, I am trying to figure this team out. This was supposed to be the best starting 5 line-up in the league. Granted they don’t have much of a bench. They are also supposed to be the best defensive team out there. These were all of the great accolades that this team was given prior to the start of the season. Last year Sixers were 10-7 vs. this year they are 7-5. Yes 5th down in the Eastern Conference. 76ers nemesis the Boston Celtics just hit 10 games in a row after losing to the Sixers in the opener, plus they lost Gordon Hayward to a injury for awhile. Sixers rolled off the 1st 5 games of the season winning. Then all of sudden they are barely winning games. Phoenix a much improved ball club, but not the fire power and the length the Sixers have, took it to them in Phoenix. NBA 2019 76ers
Okay, you say to yourself well, they were without Embidd because of a suspension. Then they go to Utah and all of sudden Simmons gets a shoulder injury. They lose to Utah, but it was a tight game without Simmons. You say, oh well their lineup got shakened a little bit, but they are still good. Then they go to Denver and lose another close game in the wanning seconds of the game. You say, oh well okay, they were still without the Simmons kid. Remember good teams that lose a player, find ways to win, regardless. It’s the early part of the season, you can make these kinds of excuses. hmm! Sixers get home and they then go on to beat Charlotte at home.
They get the next game at home and then they barely beat the Cavaliers. Now the Cavaliers are not too bad and yes; they are sporting a 4-7 record, but all the same the Sixers crawled out that game with a win, and that shouldn’t be, but nevertheless, they won. Sixers go on the road to Orlando, now mind you Orlando plays the Sixers tough. Last year about this time the Sixers took a licking from the Magic. This game Embiid is not playing; (load management???) or whatever. The Sixers pretty much have control of the game, until they hit the last of the 3rd quarter, and just blew the game in the 4th quarter. Sixer fan I am! I am disappointed, but I say it is the beggining of the season and the roster has to gel somewhat. Sixers go to Oklahoma, oh by the way, Oklahoma Thunder have a choke hold on the Sixers of 19-2 in there last 21 meeting. Should you think that they have the Sixers number? Considering the Thunder don’t have Westbrook, and George anymore, you figure that the Sixers would have a chance. The Thunder is sporting a 4-7 record prior to this game. You figure the odds would be Sixers would win it, but close. Instead; the Sixers lose. The part that I can’t understand is this low production in the 4th quarter. The Thunder outscored the Sixers 20-12 in the 4th. Looking at the game, the Sixers couldn’t hit anything. The Sixers experienced that same lapse in the 4th quarter with the Orlando Magic getting outscored 32-15.
So, as I spurted on, do you think that injuries are the key? Box scores showed that Trey Burke, Bolden, Zaire Smith, Shake Milton, Norvel Pelle, and Mario Shayok got DNP’s. Some of these guys do not get playing time anyway, but you wonder about their development, and could these guys help out during the game, to get the Sixers into the 4th quarter strong to finish out games. It is only the 12th game of the season, and hopefully they will solidify the team, so that they can close out games with close wins against any team in the league. The NBA season is long, and teams go thru stretches of good times, hard times, and horrible times. Load Management seems to be the way the league is going in order to keep their high priced stars from suffering injuries, but you look at the league years ago, that kind of thinking was unheard of. Some former player do not like this practice, unfortunately this is the owners trying to protect their investments more than the team trying to utilize the player as much as they need. Sure, if you are injured and you just absolutely cannot perform, so be it. You sit.
Last but not least, it is still early, but there are some coaching aspects you will have to consider when the production is low in the 4th quarter. Is the defense lacking? We know the offense is lacking, but the effort on the defense should keep this quarter even or at least with a slight lead. Again it is still early. Let’s see what the remainder of November will bring the Sixers. I like the Sixers and hope them to have a great season; that ball bouncing around the rim late spring this year should be enough to drive these guys to constant commitment and winning. Click here for lestalksports.com and leave a comment.