The Sixers are 2-11 and just had a post-game meeting after the loss in Miami leaked to the media. Other than that, how was the play, Mrs. Lincoln?
The Philadelphia 76ers have flipped the card over and gone back to zero days without being unnecessarily dramatic. On Monday, after blowing a 19-point lead to a Miami Heat team missing a couple key rotation pieces and playing on the second night of a back-to-back, the Sixers held a team meeting in the locker room, details of which were leaked and reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania.
Tyrese Maxey challenging Joel Embiid on his perpetual tardiness was the headliner, and there was also some disconnect between the coaching staff and the players. With Philadelphia now sitting at 2-11 on the season, Play-In Tournament speculation has started and ruminations about the team’s 2025 draft pick owed to Oklahoma City only being 1-to-6-protected are going on across the Delaware Valley. The good vibes from the offseason have not only been erased, they’ve been sucked into the vacuum of space and pulled into a black hole.
If you’re the rare optimistic sort who also happens to be a Philadelphia sports fan, the hopeful view is that meeting could end up being viewed as a turning point in the season. Maybe being taken to task by someone he loves and respect as much as Tyrese Maxey is the kick in the pants Embiid needed to refocus. Rather than further fracturing the team, the meeting could serve to bring it together. Of course, there’s also always the more straight-line view that this week’s events are another pothole on the road to ruination.
Another positive note was the bit within Charania’s reporting stating Maxey is expected back on the court sometime this week, and he has now been upgraded to questionable for tonight’s game in Memphis. Even if the Sixers needed to achieve balance with the injury gods by having Kyle Lowry go out for at least the next three games with a hip strain, we could finally see the first time the Sixers have ever had Maxey, Embiid, and Paul George available together. Add in the team’s best player this season, rookie Jared McCain, and you’re cooking with gas. That group should certainly win basketball games at better than a .154 winning percentage clip going forward.
The Grizzlies endured their season from hell last year and have been much more normal this season, getting out to a respectable 8-7 record on the year. They lost last night at home to Denver, 122-110, so the Sixers are catching a team on the second half of a back-to-back for the second game in a row. Hopefully, the less rested team won’t shockingly surge ahead in the second half like we saw Monday in Miami.
Memphis won the meeting between these clubs earlier this month, 124-107, with reserve big man Jay Huff roasting the Sixers for 20 points in 14 minutes. The Grizzlies have some injury woes of their own, with Ja Morant (hip) and rookie Zach Edey (ankle) both currently out on a week-to-week timeline. Marcus Smart also missed last night’s game due to illness, and GG Jackson II remains out until January with a broken foot.
On paper, tonight’s contest could be where the Sixers get back on track. The Grizzlies are missing their star point guard, while Philadelphia could see their own returned to action, while also having the rest advantage. Win tonight, and they can head back for a three-game homestand starting with a winnable game against Brooklyn on Friday with some momentum. Of course, nothing about this Sixers season has gone to script, so let’s just hope things are better after Monday’s meeting addressed the elephant in the room.
Game Details
Who: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Memphis Grizzlies
When: 8:00 p.m. ET
Where: FedExForum, Memphis, TN
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia Plus
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers