Post-Game

Sixers Fall to Thunder

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There comes a time for every young team to make major strides in their development. Sometimes, young teams can look so dominate one night and average the next. It is the way of the game, and has been forever. In today’s matinee with the Oklahoma City Thunder, I saw a Sixers team struggle early on, only to strap up their boots, and go to work for the rest of the game. After the Thunder opened up with a 31-15 lead, the Sixers refused to let the game get out of control. They scratch and clawed too make sure they weren’t blown out, in front of a home crowd on national television. J.J. Redick was the main reason the Sixers remained in the game. He began the game shooting 3/4 from the field and 2/2 from three. The Sixers were able to put together a solid 11-0 run to remain in the game.

At the beginning of the second quarter, it was time for Landry Shamet to step in. Shamet buried 3 consecutive three pointers to cut the lead to 2. As I have said all year long, Shamet may have been one of the best value picks in his draft class. For being a late first rounder, he has shown flashes of excellence throughout the season. With the ability to get hot at any moment, it is only a wonder how much potential the Wichita State product has. Shamet’s 3’s helped catapult the Sixers back into the game offensively, but also defensively. After being dominated in the paint early in the game, the Sixers displayed some defense of their own.

The back and forth mania continued all the way through to the fourth quarter. During the fourth, it was quite honestly one of the most entertaining ends to a game this season. Every time it seemed the Thunder had the Sixers on the ropes, they would come back with a shot of their own. This is where I saw the Sixers grow tonight. When Russell Westbrook and Paul George began to heat up in crunch time, so did Jimmy Butler, Joel Embiid, and Ben Simmons. The Sixers had an answer for everything the Thunder threw at them. It is in these times, where the true potential of a young player comes out. While it is difficult to swallow the fact Ben Simmons has not grown yet with his jump shot, he has grown with his effort level and attitude. Early in his career Ben would get down when things didn’t fall his way, but now it motivates him to play harder.

Although the Sixers ended up losing this game, I felt like their effort level was at it’s maximum this afternoon. Every player kept battling when they felt adversity, and they never let the game slip out of reach. They were right there. Things will begin to fall their way if they keep working hard, and leaving it all on the floor.

Joel Embiid, has recently been playing with a great deal of back soreness. Even though he is playing with a great deal of discomfort, he managed to put up 31-8-6 on 11-19 shooting in 34 minutes. For a man with Embiid’s injury history, he is willing to sacrifice anything for his team. Joel is very much the captain of this team and the Sixers will go as far as Embiid does. For the Sixers to become a title contender, they must take the weight off Joel’s shoulders.

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