2024-2025 Sixers Season

[bkeich]

I think it is fair to wonder if the Sixers will win another game. If they could play worse against the Bulls I can’t imagine how.

[zambonir]

it's just too bad the Nets lost

[bigegypt0417]

they are worse than the nets...

the real question is can they "outbad" the raptors?

[zambonir]

Two must-lose games against them in March.

I guess they aren't actually better w/o Joel (though I guess there were other guys not playing last night for a while too. That's really what they need to tank, load management or minor injuries for the non-star rotation guys).

I assume the stuff with Joel this week is as much about optics - both for the public and for him personally to be persuaded to stop toughing it out - as it is likely to change anything. The truth is it is not at all a good thing if he needs another surgery - but if he does, why wait?

[phillychuck]

Yabu has also been helping the tank lately since his shooting has deserted him. With him and Oubre on the court you have two guys who are hurting the team when they shoot, although they both do other things well.

Honestly, my #1 thought is "poor Maxey, don't let this year affect your love of the game."

[zambonir]

He's 24 years old and has $200 million, I think he'll be able to get his heart back in it however things move forward. He should probably want the tank more than anybody, as he would potentially play with the new pick more than anybody.

[bigegypt0417]

He's also having an excellent year...it seems to me he's become a legitimate NBA star at this point...I feel like there was a point this year there was disappointment in his play.

[zambonir]

Joel being shut down for the season.

[bigegypt0417]

it's about time!

[zambonir]

now they'll probably go out and win tomorrow night

[phillychuck]

Possibly the end of the Embiid era. I don't know if he has the desire to play anymore, even if he heals relatively well.

[zambonir]

That seems a bit far-fetched. You can't say he hasn't been trying to play through the pain this year (or every year). Of course he could be traded, fade into a secondary role or just not be able to heal well enough, but the most likely scenario is still that he's on the court for the first game next year (with or without George or Cooper Flagg, ha).

If he needs surgery this means he can get it now and if he doesn't, he can keep navigating the rehab and healing process. I suspect they still would have kept him in the mix if things weren't so bad. The players will probably still talk about trying to make the play-in but the front office is winking at us.

[bkeich]

Grimes with (OMG) 44 pts on 24 shots to help screw up the draft pick​. Crazy win. I know the Sixwrs are better off losing long term, but you can’t help but watch this game and realize there are still guys out there trying to win, and in the case of 1 guy tonight he just wouldn’t lose. Fun.

[zambonir]

Dubs were w/o Jimmy but this is why tanking is no fun. Was also somewhat predictable. Joel wasn't making them better in his current state and you have to expect guys to bring more energy/step up. New Athletic column says if the Sixers really want to protect their pick they need to shut down not just George but also Maxey. Impossible to see that really happening in Maxey's case even though he would most benefit from the Sixers getting to keep their pick. And he only had five points (but all those assists).

Grimes should have had 50 (missed six FTs) and was still a minus player.

[phillychuck]

Maxey has a minor hand injury right now and is playing through it, but it screws up his shot. They could reasonably sit him out until it's better.

[bigegypt0417]

OKC actually got the "process" right....

Sitting at 49-11 with 3 first round picks.

[zambonir]

Or two?

Another comparison:

After Joel Embiid news, 76ers should look to Grizzlies for blueprint of what...

The Memphis Grizzlies are the precedent here. Remember when they lost star point guard Ja Morant in January 2024 to a season-ending injury? Remember when they lost a bunch of starters and rotation guys around him for long periods? The 2023-24 Memphis Grizzlies set an NBA record using 33 players. They used an NBA-record 51 different starting lineups. They had a whopping 578 combined games missed because of injuries and were one of the most injured teams in league history.

They finished 27-55, 13th in the West, 19 games out of the final Play-In spot. They collected the No. 9 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Then they took Zach Edey, who has become an impact starter this season. Ja Morant and the other missing parts of their rotation returned healthy. Heading into Saturday night, they are 38-21 on the season, in the third spot in the Western Conference, and are a contender to make a run deep into the playoffs.

I just don't know how they can guarantee the tanking (they are not nearly as bad as Memphis was). But it should be so clear cut, since it's not about the quality of the pick or being in the lottery, it's literally having a pick or not having a pick.

[dcsman]

Are this point, it's probably more about trying to ensure that they aren't tanking purposefully to the NBA league office than Philly fans, right?

[zambonir]

I don't see how the league could actually challenge them if they put George and Maxey on the injured list though. They would have the medicals.

George was out tonight and so was Oubre, that along with Maxey playing hurt was more than enough to get obliterated.

oh, also

Tyrese Maxey leaves game early with a back contusion as Sixers lose 119-102 to...

[bigegypt0417]

Raptors play the wizard two games in a row so sixers can make some progress to 5.

Their schedule is rough for a few weeks.

Yep...this is where we are.