Don’t Blame Refs for Sixers’ 0-2 Deficit
Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
In the first two games of this first-round matchup against the Knicks, the Sixers had a chance to win. But in both of them, they came up short. Unfortunately, that has been a common theme over the past five or so years of Sixers basketball.
No matter the roster, or the coach, the Sixers have not made enough winning plays over the years to get over the hump. So far this series is when it matters most. the Knicks have been the ones making the winning plays.
Now back at home, it’s time for the Sixers to turn the series around.
The biggest reason the Sixers lost game one of this series was because they got out-hustled on the offensive glass. The Knicks pulled in 23 rebounds and were a +18 in second-chance points. The game was won on the glass, and the Sixers did not meet their intensity.
Unfortunately for the Sixers, Joel Embiid seemed to aggravate his knee which he recently had surgery on. He was also poked in the eye by one of his teammates, which seemed to affect his shooting. Embiid looked great at the beginning of the game but wore down as the game went on. Hopefully with two days off the Sixers’ big man will be feeling a little bit better.
While many people want to blame the refs for game 2, and yes they were awful, the Sixers lost this game because they threw it away.
When the 5 seconds to get the inbound pass is counting down, Kyle Lowry has to call a timeout there. Being a championship veteran he has to know that if you do not get the ball in right away call a timeout and advance it to half-court. His decision to inbound the ball led to chaos and the eventual loss. Tyrese Maxey also had a chance to call timeout when he had the ball on the ground, but instead turned it over which led to the game-winning shot. The two-point guards both should have had the command to take a timeout and get a play drawn up, but instead, they gave the Knicks one too many chances.
What is the biggest reason for the Sixers being down 2-0 in this series so far? The roster construction.
Four years into his tenure as President of Basketball Operations, Daryl Morey has failed to put together a championship-caliber roster around Joel Embiid, and it seems as if he has failed to do that again. Tobias Harris, Buddy Hield, Nicolas Batum, and Kelly Oubre Jr have all been no-shows so far in this series. If the Sixers are going to win this series it is going to be because these guys stepped up.
Embiid and Maxey have done their part so far, but the rest of the team has let them down. If the role players on this team don’t start playing better, it will be an early exit for the Sixers.
Use code PHILLYSPORTSREPORT for $20 off your first SeatGeek order
Click here to save 10% on any order at FOCO
