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Game #19: Sixers vs Suns Pregame – Battle of the Big Fellas

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Game #19: Phoenix Suns v. Philadelphia 76ers

Location: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia

Watch: NBCS Philadelphia and NBA TV

Listen: 97.5 The Fanatic

Line: -11

The Sixers look to keep things rolling tonight after their thrilling overtime win over the Hornets Saturday night. A game where Sixers fans got a real good look at what Jimmy Butler is going to bring to the team. Tonight’s game SHOULD be an easier battle as the line would indicate. That being said, Philadelphia fans know sometimes its not as easy it should be in the City of Brotherly Love.

Sixers are coming into the game having won seven of their last ten games and remain undefeated at home so far this year. The Suns, on the other hand, are coming into the game only winning two of their last ten games and are win-less on the road so far this season. The Suns last loss coming to the Thunder at home.

Two of the Sixers biggest faults are squandering early leads and letting scorers go off. Tonight should be a good test for the Sixers in both areas. I don’t see how Philly doesn’t start the game off strong and come out to an early lead. The question will be how Brett Brown manages the lead. He tends to go to the bench early and often and doesn’t ride the hot hand, particularly of Joel Embiid.  It is still early in the season (only 19 games in) so maybe he is trying to find the right rotations. Devin Booker went off against the Sixers the last season. The Sixers need to learn how to contain scorers and not let them go off for 25+ point nights.

Tonight will be an exciting match between Joel Embiid and the first overall pick DeAndre Ayton. Ayton is having a pretty solid start to his NBA career and was compared to Joel going into this years draft. It will be fun to watch Embiid play someone who was slated to be around his talent level. Embiid has been pretty much unstoppable, even with the hand injury, so I expect to see him go off again tonight.

I have to keys to tonight’s game. First, which is the usual key to the game for the Sixers, limit turnovers. There is no denying the Sixers have a problem with ball control. Tonight I’d like to see, specifically Ben Simmons, under control with the ball in his hands. He tends to drive to the basket with his dribble extended given the defenders a clear path to swipe the ball away. If he can keep his dribble into his body and slow himself down we will likely see a less turnovers. My second key to the game is stopping runs. Clearly basketball is a game of runs, but the Sixers let runs go on to long. The hope is that Jimmy Butler will help control those runs and minimize the damage.

My prediction for tonight’s game is a Sixers double digit win. Embiid back up what he was said in the summer and dominates Ayton. Butler continues to get comfortable and settled in. Ben Simmons flirts with a triple double. Redick come out firing from 3.

Be sure to tune in to The Phifth Quarter on twitter for all of your in game updates and stop back after the game to catch my post game coverage.

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