The Sixers are missing two of their stars Wednesday, but the man who was once the team’s highest-paid player makes his return.
The Philadelphia 76ers had their first good moment of the regular season, upsetting Indiana on the road in overtime over the weekend, with Tyrese Maxey exploding for 45 points. Negadelphia being what it is, however, we were then due for a letdown, and we received it Tuesday with the news that Joel Embiid and Paul George were both out for tonight’s home contest against the Detroit Pistons.
It had been hinted at that the Pistons game would be the season debut for both stars, so it’s a bit of a letdown in that sense. Moreover, the Embiid situation gets more and more concerning by the day. It’s highly unlikely at this point that his absence was all part of a ‘plan’ by the Sixers, as they previously stated prior to the regular season opener. Even giving them the benefit of the doubt that there is a plan, you should probably clue people in on what the plan actually is. Right now, everyone looks like a mess with the Sixers organization, and you have to be worried about the health of the team’s star center.
At least we fans aren’t following tonight’s opponent, though. After falling to fifth in the draft despite having the worst record for the second straight year, the Detroit Pistons are off to an 0-4 start on the season. The front office signed former Sixer Tobias Harris to a two-year, $52 million deal during the offseason, somehow missing the majority of his Sixers tenure or things like his scoring zero points on two shots in a playoff game. NBA League Pass is pretty glitchy, to be fair. Maybe a more ball dominant role is suiting Tobi, though, as Torrel Harris always maintained? Let’s check in on his Detroit era.
#1 reason the Pistons are 0-4 is Tobias Harris, and I don’t like say that because I am fan of him as a player.
But, he’s been really bad to start the season and his addition was suppose to be the biggest difference maker from last years team to this one.
— Ku (@KuKhahil) October 29, 2024
Four games down, 160 to go on that contract, Pistons fans.
The other member of last year’s Sixers squad making his return is Paul Reed. BBall Paul was claimed off waivers by Detroit after Philadelphia released him, but anyone hoping to see him in action may be disappointed. Reed is in a third big role behind Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart and has only appeared in one game thus far, playing seven minutes. Maybe J.B. Bickerstaff will give him some minutes since The Center is his old stomping grounds.
Cade Cunningham signed a five-year, $224 million rookie max extension in the offseason and has performed well in the early going, averaging 26.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 7.5 assists (albeit against 5.8 turnovers), shooting 37.0 percent from three. 2022 fifth overall pick Jaden Ivey is shooting the ball well out of the gates, hitting 42.9 percent of his threes at a career-high volume. 2024 fifth overall Ron Holland II is coming off the bench at the moment, but is an intriguing, toolsy piece of the roster. Sadly, last year’s fifth overall pick, Ausar Thompson, is currently out due to a blood clotting issue.
Even without two of the big three, the Sixers are the better side than this young Pistons group. I’d love to see Maxey build off his best performance of the early season in Indiana — maybe something similar to his playmaking 29-point, 11-assist effort against Detroit last season. Additions like Andre Drummond and Guerschon Yabusele have turned the tables for the Sixers in the offensive rebounding department. The Pistons are going to miss plenty of shots and are prone to turning the ball over. Win those hustle stat areas and the Sixers shouldn’t have trouble getting back to .500. I’m excited to see them hopefully take care of business.
More than anything, though, I can’t wait to see the crowd reaction to the Tobi tribute video.
Game Details
Who: Philadelphia 76ers vs. Detroit Pistons
When: 7:00 pm ET
Where: The Center, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers