Game #42: Sixers-Wizards Pregame
Game #42: Philadelphia 76ers @ Washington Wizards
Location: Washington D.C., Capital One Arena
Line: PHI -4
Watch: NBCSports Philly
Listen: 97.5 The Fanatic
Photo Credit: Philly.com
The Sixers (27-14), are heading into Washington (16-25), fresh off the heels of a 132-115 blow out win over the Wizards. The second game of a home and home is always tough and often it is easy to overlook your opponent, especially when you beat them convincingly only a night prior. Still, this Wizards team is very vulnerable. Since the beginning of the season, there hasn’t been much to cheer for if you’re a Wizards fan. With rumors swirling of a potential rebuild and the season-ending injury of star John Wall, things have looked very bleak for this Wizards. Just over halfway through the season, the Wizards currently sit 4th in the Atlantic and have virtually no shot of making the playoffs. Still, they have found ways to beat the Thunder and even reel off a 3 game winning streak in the middle of December.
Just last week, Adrian Wojnarowski dropped a bomb on the basketball world, that Jimmy Butler was unhappy with his usage within the Sixers system. He reported Jimmy met with Sixers Head Coach Brett Brown and aggressively challenged the coaches implementation of the star in the rotation. It’s hard to believe Jimmy could be that upset, when the team has won 7 of their last 10 including and a 4 game win streak that is still in motion. While at times I have questioned Browns strategy, in the Sixers last contest Butler shot 8 of 9 from the field and 1 of 1 from beyond the arc. This showed me that Brown took Butler’s criticism and LISTENED.
When the Sixers traded Dario Saric and Robert Covington for Jimmy Butler, they shortened their window to make a title run and win it. The Sixers can’t afford to deal Butler or it will be a huge blunder for first year General Manager Elton Brand. My advice? Make it work, however necessary. The acquisition of Butler was supposed to take some of the weight off Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons shoulders, and at times it has. Other times, it seems Joel Embiid is carrying a 16-Ton Mac Truck on his back with no help at all. This big 3 needs to work as a cohesive unit and pick up each other when things aren’t falling their way.
For the Sixers, to remain a true contender and develop chemistry, it is crucial they beat up on teams like the Wizards. This Wizards team is a vulnerable, depleted roster with only one true star-caliber player left, Bradley Beal. If the Sixers can shutdown Beal, and hold him to under 30, they should easily win this game. Beal and Jeff Green were the only Wizards starters to reach double figures last night. Four players on their bench reached double figures, so the Sixers bench will need to do a better job at limiting points from the reserves. Many times this season, when Embiid departs for the bench, opposing teams feast on the Sixers second unit. This cannot continue to happen game after game.
Speaking of the bench, Sixers rookie and first round pick, Landry Shamet, absolutely dominated in their last contest. Shamet, dropped 28 points (Career High) becoming the first rookie in NBA history to register 8 three pointers in less than 25 minutes, and just the 8th player of all-time to accomplish this feat. When the Sixers selected Shamet late in the first round, I believe they thought he would take time to develop and spend time in the G-League. Since he has shown up on the first day of camp, he has been a crucial part of the Sixers bench and anything, but bad. Landry has been one of the most pleasant surprises halfway through the season and the Sixers have found a diamond in the rough.
