The Sixers lost in disgusting fashion to a faltering Kings team on Wednesday, losing the first half of a back-to-back in the West by a final score of 113-107.
This is what I saw.
The Good
— Much ink has been spilled on the debate over what the Sixers need to do to move forward Paul George. Given his track record and expectations for the year, George has been one of the league's big disappointments offensively, so these conversations are natural.
The answer is perhaps the same as for many other good players alongside big stars: it's not as easy to start when you're third in the pecking order. Given the chance to play the role of star man on Wednesday, George got going early and played a remarkable first half, dropping 20 points on the Kings before they realized what had hit them.
You can see the Sixers running some plays they like for George and coming back to them as the weeks go by. They make him take out more flare screens to see the nacelle from the wing for example, and ask him to do a little less solo creation. That doesn't mean he doesn't drive. Rather, George picks up the ball in his hands while it is already in motion, diminishing the importance of his first step as he gets older.
But despite the tactical difficulties and changes to his shooting regime, George simply must take more advantage of the opportunities presented to him. Against Sacramento, he was opportunistic, recording his first three open plays of the night and turning them into a midrange barrage. George glared ultra-hard through and around the contact. Making difficult shots is breathtaking and only highlights how baffling it is that he missed so many open looks this year.
When George hit the hardwood after the layup that gave him his 19th and 20th points of the night, that feeling of “Here we go again!” quickly spreading throughout the Sixers world. Of course, NOW This would be the time when another injury or problem would plague George, in the middle of a radiator. But the damage was not as bad as it initially appeared, and George's rampage continued from the start of the second half. On an early possession where Maxey almost fell while trying to drive, George hit a wing three that he didn't really need to make, lifting himself up at an awkward angle with a hand to his face. Nothing but net.
Note that George's success in basket offense is as important as his success in shooting. His efficiency around the basket has continued to increase, and you can see the touch and know-how shining through now as he creates the few extra inches of separation on his moves to the paint. Put it all together and you have a dangerous man on the wing.
— Give me the version of Andre Drummond who competes hard on defense, and I'll live with a possession or two per game where he throws a pass on the fifth line. He can become an influential bench player by simply leveraging his existing tools, which has been easier said than done this season.
After a brief injury absence, Drummond joined the team in a difficult situation, with Domantas Sabonis already rolling by the time he got his first minutes on Wednesday. Drummond hit the floor with a full understanding of the situation, relieving Sabonis on several post-up attempts while leveling the battle for the boards.
One of my favorite Drummond possessions of the season came midway through the second quarter when an extra effort from him to help at the rim forced the Kings to swing the ball and ultimately reset the offense. After his teammates followed suit with their own pressure, Drummond closed the paint, came down with the defensive rebound and Reggie Jackson hit a big three on the other end to cap the sequence. It's a moment that reinforces how basketball should be played and where the actions of one guy can cause a positive chain reaction.
(George had a moment in the same vein as Drummond's play in the third quarter – he fought back-to-back on Sabonis and Huerter's shots at the basket. He cleaned up Sabonis' play himself, but it was Yabusele who blocked Huerter, thanks to the extra second of hesitation caused by George in the air.)
The Sixers also benefited from a surprisingly bouncy effort from Drummond on offense, where he served as a post-up center on a few possessions and scored with some nice footwork around the hoop. I don't use Drummond's offense too often, but if you can't get a little excited to see him execute a backhand up and down, this sport may not be for you.
— Since returning from a brief layoff, Caleb Martin has looked like a completely different player.
The bad
—The Kings are pretty bad, honestly. Let's give them this category.
— I almost didn't like anything about this Tyrese Maxey game.
The point total was pretty good through three quarters, and Maxey dug deep into his runner/floater bag to try to disarm Sabonis as Sacramento's center sat and fell toward the rim on possession after possession. When he got it working, it honestly brought back memories of his rookie year. But for every pretty floater, there was an equally bad attempt by fading out of bounds, or a wayward pass that he was lucky not to turn into a turnover. He was lucky not to add a few more turnovers to his total, thanks to well-timed jumpers and his teammate's great hands that saved him from embarrassment.
It was also a mixed game for Maxey on the defensive end. He looked at the ball way more than is acceptable and was the culprit for a few of their weakest turnovers/closeouts of the night. While he probably evened that out with his steals, we know he's capable of setting the bar much higher.
All of that could have been erased with a run in the fourth quarter, and Maxey looked like a deer in the headlights against any coverage the Kings threw at him. De'Aaron Fox overwhelmed him with size on some isolation possessions, forcing Maxey to take a few trash shots inside the arc. Sacramento also sent a few effective traps, including one that led to the game's crucial turnaround, with the Kings running the other way to tie the game on a DeRozan layup. Maxey's next possession was a failed attempt to attack Fox off the dribble, with Kentucky's smaller guard ultimately launching a harmless shot toward the rim after stopping dead in his tracks around the free throw line.
As a team, the Sixers managed the end of the match disastrously. I don't think it's all on Maxey – I can't blame him for George stripping as he headed to the rim – but he's the guy who's supposed to be a calming influence as a perimeter leader . He was as ignorant as the others.
—Here's an obligatory nursing mention, because the coach always deserves scrutiny during a crucial collapse where everyone feels completely oblivious to the situation and the score.)
— I'm not entirely sure what kind of “oral surgery” Eric Gordon performed over the Christmas period, but are we entirely sure a cavity wasn't holding him back? Was tooth pain the only thing keeping him from being a useful contributor?
His physical appearance was more important than shots made, and Gordon had a number of them. Maybe it was just the benefit of a little time off for a guy in his thirties, but he seemed to move better on both ends of the court, even making a perimeter block on an attempted shot in the second quarter. George brought the ball loose and fired a one-out to Gordon, who delivered a medium-difficulty two at the other end.
Unfortunately, he ended up playing about six minutes too long.
— The third consecutive game where Paul George committed at least five fouls. Something to watch out for.
— Sabonis has 21 rebounds. I probably should have played a little more at Drummond.
The ugly
—Kyle Lowry, what do you say we do here? Frankly, Nick Nurse should be the one explaining, because he chose to start him and play him big minutes despite his season-long ride on the wrestling bus.
What's the best case scenario for his minutes, that he gets billed at some point? His passes have been sloppy, he can't make shots and he's not putting any pressure on the rim. Other than that…
— Ricky Council IV throwing a behind-the-back pass to Andre Drummond on a six-point play in the fourth quarter is a great summary of why the coaching staff really lacks confidence in him. The nurse immediately removed it after the rollover, and I can't blame her.
