Sixers V Grizzlies 11/20/24 : Biggest Game of the season...i hate it here

[Ferry Avenue]

I suspect the primary problem with this team is what it's always been -- it revolves itself around a center who doesn't have exceptional passing skills (i.e., Jokic). The team has the emergence of Maxey and the acquisition of George and still revolves itself around a center who can't pass. That's a tremendous limiting factor on what it can accomplish, and the players have to experience that on the court as a dead weight ball and chain.

[Jailblazers7]

It feels like Nurse has lost the locker room. The team was imperfect last year but they played really hard - they were even giving real effort in preseason last year. The effort has been bad particularly on defense & Embiid is questioning the offensive philosophy.

Some shots start to fall & I’m sure everyone will be happier but until then it’s looking bleak. It’s just baffling to me that we keep generating good looks but can’t make a shot.

Are there any fraud coaches out there that can come on as a consultant and sink Nurse then take the HC position? We are RIPE for the taking.

If the ESPN to HC pipeline continues we should get ready for…Kendrick Perkins

[Eyeamok]

Someone needs to ask Buddy Hield why his shooting suddenly faltered during his time with this team. Understanding what happened could hold the answer into the shooting struggles we’re facing now.

Nurse didn't run action for him, just expected him to work in his shystem

Or Buddy just did not play well. And realized he was facing the end of his NBA career if he did not get it together. So over the summer he worked his ass off and here he is today. Or we could just face the fact that the 76ers is the place where shooters come to die.

[76ciology]

After rewatching the Grizzlies game, it seems like Embiid sets screens more to get the ball back in a favorable position rather than to free up the shooter—especially when paired with McCain. This approach is noticeably different from how screeners like Kevon Looney or Draymond Green operate, where their screens are primarily focused on creating space for teammates. That said, I can understand Embiid’s perspective—he’s a generational scorer, and it might align with the game plan to prioritize getting him his rhythm, making him a happy camper or exploiting the mismatch tonight he had with Clarke.

On another note, I also noticed during tonight’s game that we ran some of those weave actions. However, when Embiid got the ball, he used the motion to throw his defender off balance, then attacked the rim instead of completing the handoff. Honestly, I’d prefer that approach rather than relying on Caleb Martin or Kelly Oubre to create offense. The issue arises when we run the same sets with Drummond—those plays often result in a Caleb or Oubre drive or even a Drummond isolation, which are less effective.

[76ciology]

Someone needs to ask Buddy Hield why his shooting suddenly faltered during his time with this team. Understanding what happened could hold the answer into the shooting struggles we’re facing now.

Nurse didn't run action for him, just expected him to work in his shystem

Or Buddy just did not play well. And realized he was facing the end of his NBA career if he did not get it together. So over the summer he worked his ass off and here he is today. Or we could just face the fact that the 76ers is the place where shooters come to die.

I think he thrives in fast paced systems like those of the Pacers or Warriors, which prioritize pushing the ball. Warriors bigs also are GOAT level screeners for shooters, this goes back to guys like Zaza Pachulia who they turned into a championship level starting center.

Warriors screeners screens to free up shooters, they dont set screens in order to get the ball back for a 1v1.

[MikRay]

After rewatching the Grizzlies game, it seems like Embiid sets screens more to get the ball back in a favorable position rather than to free up the shooter—especially when paired with McCain. This approach is noticeably different from how screeners like Kevon Looney or Draymond Green operate, where their screens are primarily focused on creating space for teammates. That said, I can understand Embiid’s perspective—he’s a generational scorer, and it might align with the game plan to prioritize getting him his rhythm, making him a happy camper or exploiting the mismatch tonight he had with Clarke.

On another note, I also noticed during tonight’s game that we ran some of those weave actions. However, when Embiid got the ball, he used the motion to throw his defender off balance, then attacked the rim instead of completing the handoff. Honestly, I’d prefer that approach rather than relying on Caleb Martin or Kelly Oubre to create offense. The issue arises when we run the same sets with Drummond—those plays often result in a Caleb or Oubre drive or even a Drummond isolation, which are less effective.

He froze out McCain no doubt

[MikRay]

Go get Bob meyers. That guy that ran GS.

[Negrodamus]

After rewatching the Grizzlies game, it seems like Embiid sets screens more to get the ball back in a favorable position rather than to free up the shooter—especially when paired with McCain. This approach is noticeably different from how screeners like Kevon Looney or Draymond Green operate, where their screens are primarily focused on creating space for teammates. That said, I can understand Embiid’s perspective—he’s a generational scorer, and it might align with the game plan to prioritize getting him his rhythm, making him a happy camper or exploiting the mismatch tonight he had with Clarke.

On another note, I also noticed during tonight’s game that we ran some of those weave actions. However, when Embiid got the ball, he used the motion to throw his defender off balance, then attacked the rim instead of completing the handoff. Honestly, I’d prefer that approach rather than relying on Caleb Martin or Kelly Oubre to create offense. The issue arises when we run the same sets with Drummond—those plays often result in a Caleb or Oubre drive or even a Drummond isolation, which are less effective.

How many wide open shots did you witness be bricked throughout the game? That was the difference in a W and L.

[mjkvol]

Two silver linings:

1) Embiid looks like he's back

2) Team actually fought back in the end

If Maxey can get back to form maybe we can win some games with a healthy Big 3 of Jo, Maxey and McCain.

3. Even on an off night for him, McCain still put up 20 and nearly shot 50% from 3.

It's sacrilegious at this point not to include McCain in any silver lining list.

Listen, I don't want to take anything away from the start McCain is having, but let's face facts - he's a defensive liability, is beginning to be targeted, and was blown by a couple of times barely showing any effort. I love him as an auto offense 6th man, but my feeling is that he and Maxey will be eaten alive by good teams as a starting backcourt right now. That might be one reason he hasn't seen the court time everyone believes he should be getting.

Embiid can't be faulted tonight - he made good decisions for the most part, avoided being a ball stopper, and was taking the gimme elbow jumpers with little hesitation. He and Maxey just need to be on the court together more and the chemistry will return.

I'm sorry, but the only reason George will be missed is because it is a $40 million black hole that might have been 2-3 productive players, while we are instead relying on guys like Oubre, Gordon, and Reggie Jackson. That signing was a disaster from the start, and might end up being the undoing of the next couple of seasons.

Where the hell was Yabusele in the second half? And finally, we saw the potential upside of Caleb Martin in this game. Being a jack of all trades effort guy who does the dirty work and is a 4th-5th offensive option is where his true value lies.

[mjkvol]

Sit out George until he’s 200%. We were fine last season with Tobias and Caleb can fill that Tobias role.

Totally agree. More Yabu and Council along with Martin and a healthy Maxey and Embiid, and we won't even miss George.

[mjkvol]

Speaking of: I did like the idea of the lineup that started the 4th Jared and Maxey with Oubre, Martin, Andre. Seemed to be okay offensively except a few turnovers in part from Drummond. Yet defensively, still not totally sure.

I don't like Oubre and Drummond on the floor together and I'm not sure the double munchkin backcourt is a great idea. Oubre should be on the floor with Embiid and let McCain run the 2nd unit and cook. And please limit Drummond's offense to garbage hoops and offensive boards.

[sixers4real]

Lol wonderful

Joel Embiid when asked about the details that emerged from Monday's team meeting: "Whoever leaked that is a real piece of ****. But even then, we talked about a lot of things. I don’t want to get into the details, but that whole thing probably took 30 seconds."

https://bsky.app/profile/ginamizell.bsky.social/post/3lbgpukozkk2t

Sent from my SM-S928B using Tapatalk

As much as I love the Sixers, everything he does is annoying. I’m not even watching the Sixers games

[Negrodamus]

Two silver linings:

1) Embiid looks like he's back

2) Team actually fought back in the end

If Maxey can get back to form maybe we can win some games with a healthy Big 3 of Jo, Maxey and McCain.

3. Even on an off night for him, McCain still put up 20 and nearly shot 50% from 3.

It's sacrilegious at this point not to include McCain in any silver lining list.

Listen, I don't want to take anything away from the start McCain is having, but let's face facts - he's a defensive liability, is beginning to be targeted, and was blown by a couple of times barely showing any effort. I love him as an auto offense 6th man, but my feeling is that he and Maxey will be eaten alive by good teams as a starting backcourt right now. That might be one reason he hasn't seen the court time everyone believes he should be getting.

Embiid can't be faulted tonight - he made good decisions for the most part, avoided being a ball stopper, and was taking the gimme elbow jumpers with little hesitation. He and Maxey just need to be on the court together more and the chemistry will return.

I'm sorry, but the only reason George will be missed is because it is a $40 million black hole that might have been 2-3 productive players, while we are instead relying on guys like Oubre, Gordon, and Reggie Jackson. That signing was a disaster from the start, and might end up being the undoing of the next couple of seasons.

Where the hell was Yabusele in the second half? And finally, we saw the potential upside of Caleb Martin in this game. Being a jack of all trades effort guy who does the dirty work and is a 4th-5th offensive option is where his true value lies.

I actually disagree on McCain's defense. He wasn't as disruptive as Martin and he had rookie lapses, but I thought he looked decent on defense. Better than a usual Maxey game, tbh. But there will always be limitations on what a 6'1 guard can do.

[mjkvol]

3. Even on an off night for him, McCain still put up 20 and nearly shot 50% from 3.

It's sacrilegious at this point not to include McCain in any silver lining list.

Listen, I don't want to take anything away from the start McCain is having, but let's face facts - he's a defensive liability, is beginning to be targeted, and was blown by a couple of times barely showing any effort. I love him as an auto offense 6th man, but my feeling is that he and Maxey will be eaten alive by good teams as a starting backcourt right now. That might be one reason he hasn't seen the court time everyone believes he should be getting.

Embiid can't be faulted tonight - he made good decisions for the most part, avoided being a ball stopper, and was taking the gimme elbow jumpers with little hesitation. He and Maxey just need to be on the court together more and the chemistry will return.

I'm sorry, but the only reason George will be missed is because it is a $40 million black hole that might have been 2-3 productive players, while we are instead relying on guys like Oubre, Gordon, and Reggie Jackson. That signing was a disaster from the start, and might end up being the undoing of the next couple of seasons.

Where the hell was Yabusele in the second half? And finally, we saw the potential upside of Caleb Martin in this game. Being a jack of all trades effort guy who does the dirty work and is a 4th-5th offensive option is where his true value lies.

I actually disagree on McCain's defense. He wasn't as disruptive as Martin and he had rookie lapses, but I thought he looked decent on defense. Better than a usual Maxey game, tbh. But there will always be limitations on what a 6'1 guard can do.

Listen, I have zero doubt that he will make himself into a minimum net-neutral defender and likely much better than that when he learns to use the leverage he has with his lower body. If it was going to be tank-a-rama I'd have him on the floor for 40 minutes, but if winning this year is still actually a thing then it might be best to let him show his primary strength by cooking with the 2nd unit and not compromise the starting unit with two small guards. Problem is who to start, because Oubre appears to be a liability wherever he is.

[WentzerWuver]

3. Even on an off night for him, McCain still put up 20 and nearly shot 50% from 3.

It's sacrilegious at this point not to include McCain in any silver lining list.

Listen, I don't want to take anything away from the start McCain is having, but let's face facts - he's a defensive liability, is beginning to be targeted, and was blown by a couple of times barely showing any effort. I love him as an auto offense 6th man, but my feeling is that he and Maxey will be eaten alive by good teams as a starting backcourt right now. That might be one reason he hasn't seen the court time everyone believes he should be getting.

Embiid can't be faulted tonight - he made good decisions for the most part, avoided being a ball stopper, and was taking the gimme elbow jumpers with little hesitation. He and Maxey just need to be on the court together more and the chemistry will return.

I'm sorry, but the only reason George will be missed is because it is a $40 million black hole that might have been 2-3 productive players, while we are instead relying on guys like Oubre, Gordon, and Reggie Jackson. That signing was a disaster from the start, and might end up being the undoing of the next couple of seasons.

Where the hell was Yabusele in the second half? And finally, we saw the potential upside of Caleb Martin in this game. Being a jack of all trades effort guy who does the dirty work and is a 4th-5th offensive option is where his true value lies.

I actually disagree on McCain's defense. He wasn't as disruptive as Martin and he had rookie lapses, but I thought he looked decent on defense. Better than a usual Maxey game, tbh. But there will always be limitations on what a 6'1 guard can do.

He wasn't known for his defense at Duke but he will suddenly go defensive on much better players? Doubtful as he has too many things on his plate to start learning how to play good D.

https://youtube.com/shorts/3-i5tq5L7yk?si=h6oUklK3EDOINtXb

https://youtube.com/shorts/ZzTtT1JFXnQ?si=ygnyd45vVBCDpXNp

Dlo still can't play D after 7 years in the league no matter how much he has tried to defend.

https://youtube.com/shorts/k1mTALRroa0?si=bZbQ6MjyX9-87beU

[DCasey91]

76ciology that's arguably Embiid's biggest weakness as a player.

For his size honestly is a crappy screener. He doesn't stick it

Never has he boomed on a guy. I mean he's a gigantic human

Instead of trying to get the receive all the time actually demolish the guy trying to get around. Heck he could smack both if he wanted

I want some damn Bogut/Green/Iggy GOATED screens for Maxey and MCCain to get easy looks.

Not that I think it will happen though

Watch on YouTube

Respect. C'mon guys actually play team basketball

If there's one thing missing is that Ben really did set the best screens at our club by a fukn mile.

[M2J]

Nurse didn't run action for him, just expected him to work in his shystem

Or Buddy just did not play well. And realized he was facing the end of his NBA career if he did not get it together. So over the summer he worked his ass off and here he is today. Or we could just face the fact that the 76ers is the place where shooters come to die.

I think he thrives in fast paced systems like those of the Pacers or Warriors, which prioritize pushing the ball. Warriors bigs also are GOAT level screeners for shooters, this goes back to guys like Zaza Pachulia who they turned into a championship level starting center.

Warriors screeners screens to free up shooters, they dont set screens in order to get the ball back for a 1v1.

Well this for sure, and especially without Joel they didn't quicken the pace.... Which would've been the easiest way to assist Maxey, Oubre, Buddy, Payne, and then center Reed.

But, I they didn't call action for Hield enough, get him primarily involved enough on the move. Just wanted him be a release valve, especially in the Knicks series where they just didn't leave him and he didn't get involved until guess what Nurse ran action for him and got him involved in game 6 when he finally figured out he needed additional scoring? Buddy had been giving defensive effort since joining, and was the big acquisition... His abilities weren't given much thought by the coach. Similar to now when they have so many new faces as well Morey lineups do year in and year out, they're clearly (George included) are struggling to all fit within this system, and instead of dumbing it down with spread pick and rolls/pops and falling into the system when things aren't working..... They just struggle. I can see why Joel says he's lost. They all are lost.

[Black Mage]

Two silver linings:

1) Embiid looks like he's back

2) Team actually fought back in the end

If Maxey can get back to form maybe we can win some games with a healthy Big 3 of Jo, Maxey and McCain.

3. Even on an off night for him, McCain still put up 20 and nearly shot 50% from 3.

It's sacrilegious at this point not to include McCain in any silver lining list.

Listen, I don't want to take anything away from the start McCain is having, but let's face facts - he's a defensive liability, is beginning to be targeted, and was blown by a couple of times barely showing any effort. I love him as an auto offense 6th man, but my feeling is that he and Maxey will be eaten alive by good teams as a starting backcourt right now. That might be one reason he hasn't seen the court time everyone believes he should be getting.

Embiid can't be faulted tonight - he made good decisions for the most part, avoided being a ball stopper, and was taking the gimme elbow jumpers with little hesitation. He and Maxey just need to be on the court together more and the chemistry will return.

I'm sorry, but the only reason George will be missed is because it is a $40 million black hole that might have been 2-3 productive players, while we are instead relying on guys like Oubre, Gordon, and Reggie Jackson. That signing was a disaster from the start, and might end up being the undoing of the next couple of seasons.

Where the hell was Yabusele in the second half? And finally, we saw the potential upside of Caleb Martin in this game. Being a jack of all trades effort guy who does the dirty work and is a 4th-5th offensive option is where his true value lies.

Nurse has played McCain into the ground during this stretch. Monday he played 37 minutes, last night it was 41. McCain getting blow by is most likely part athleticism and part simple exhaustion.

[Black Mage]

Let's start with the negatives, which are obvious at this point..
- complete mess on offense, people running into each other, poor timing on hand-offs, insecurity with passes, blocking our own passing lanes
- McCain, yes, we understand by now that you can score, but you can't just keep chugging every time you touch the ball. If that's the plan, then move him to the 6th man and let him do it with the second unit
- Rotations - I feel like at this point we need to find some stability; we're not going to be able to do that by playing a 12-man rotation, which includes 7 new players.
- we lost to a depleted Memphis team, which just shows that we are not favorites against anyone in the league; if Ja was playing, this game would've been over by mid 2nd quarter

A few positives:
- showed some spirit late in 4th, not giving up and allowing to be blown out after being down 18
- Embiid showed a better body language, and that he is not quite dead yet
- Yabusele - out of all acquisitions, he looks like most stable and consistent guy there; playing to his strengths, not trying to do too much and letting the game come to him

And that's about it.
PG is injured again, Maxey will need another week to get into the game rhythm, and Embiid is already rubbing his knees.

Did we watch the same game last night? McCain played 41 minutes and took a whopping 13 shots. Maxey played 20 and took...13 shots. McCain played 6 minutes longer than Joel and took 8 less shots than Joel. McCain also lead the team in assists with 5.

Like what game did you watch that you claim McCain was "chugging every time he touched the ball."

[Black Mage]

After rewatching the Grizzlies game, it seems like Embiid sets screens more to get the ball back in a favorable position rather than to free up the shooter—especially when paired with McCain. This approach is noticeably different from how screeners like Kevon Looney or Draymond Green operate, where their screens are primarily focused on creating space for teammates. That said, I can understand Embiid’s perspective—he’s a generational scorer, and it might align with the game plan to prioritize getting him his rhythm, making him a happy camper or exploiting the mismatch tonight he had with Clarke.

On another note, I also noticed during tonight’s game that we ran some of those weave actions. However, when Embiid got the ball, he used the motion to throw his defender off balance, then attacked the rim instead of completing the handoff. Honestly, I’d prefer that approach rather than relying on Caleb Martin or Kelly Oubre to create offense. The issue arises when we run the same sets with Drummond—those plays often result in a Caleb or Oubre drive or even a Drummond isolation, which are less effective.

Joel has historically been a bad screen setter for this reason. Watch any other season and he'll set a screen and before the screened defender is truly on him he's slipping with his hands up to get the ball back.