Sixers Bell Ringer: Philadelphia still winless at home after rough loss to Memphis

The undersized Sixers got crushed in the painted area, falling 124-107 to drop to 1-4 on the season.

Sixers Bell Ringer regular season standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 2
Kelly Oubre, Jr. – 1
Guerschon Yabusele – 1

Philadelphia dropped to 1-4 overall and 0-3 at home on the season following a 124-107 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday night. The paint was where the Sixers lost this game, getting outscored there, 70-34. The Sixers are playing super small lineups right now and there is not nearly enough rim deterrence, especially when Andre Drummond plays as poorly as he did tonight. Check out this stat on the rebounding:

Offensively, things continue to be a slog, with defenses piling on Tyrese Maxey and not a lot of other help coming his way. Having two of the team’s three projected leading scorers actually play should help matters, obviously, but nobody’s having a lot of fun watching this version of the Sixers. Let’s look at the rare bright spots for tonight’s Bell Ringer.

Jared McCain: 19 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 turnover

Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images

Jared McCain just about singlehandedly kept this game from being a laugher, dropping 17 points in the fourth quarter alone to help the Sixers nearly get things back into single digits after being down by as many as 25 points. The rookie hit his first two career three-pointers, shooting those from behind the ol’ four-point line at the practice facility. McCain also got plenty of buckets on the interior, flashing shifty moves to finish with short turnaround jumpers, floaters, or scoop shots. Jared injected some fun into what was largely a pretty depressing evening of basketball, and for that we’re grateful.

Tyrese Maxey: 23 points, 2 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, 3 turnovers

Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

It was by no means a pantheon Maxey game, after he shot just 8-of-19 from the floor. But everyone is such a high degree of difficulty for the All-Star right now with defenses throwing everything they can at him. When he does convert, it’s often some ridiculous play, like a scorching stepback jumper or a Maxey sprint dribble full steam towards the baseline only to rise up for the shot before the defense can react. His and-one conversion in the second quarter was a perfectly absurd blend of speed, body control, and touch. I can’t wait to watch Tyrese again without 80 percent of the defense focused on him.

KJ Martin: 4 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 blocks, 0 turnovers

Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

There weren’t a ton of worthy nominee choices provided by the Sixers tonight, so let’s highlight the fact that KJ Martin at least provided some juice while he was out there. KJ is battling much bigger dudes on defense, like Jaren Jackson Jr. tonight, and he has refined his work as a lob threat and help rim protector. Martin was the only guy able to slow down Jay Huff at all tonight with this block, recovering at warp speed after there was some miscommunication at the top with Andre Drummond defending the double drag screen.