It’s back to work for the Philadelphia 76ers. They have the challenging task of not only playing the back end of consecutive games, but to do it after such an emotional day for the team, retiring Allen Iverson’s number. If that was not enough, they have to travel all the way down to Orlando for a game less than 20 hours after the conclusion of their last game.
Games like this can really give you a dose of reality of just how bad the team is. On a few days’ worth of rest, they gave up 74 first half points on Saturday—and with an electric crowd behind them. How bad will it be on short turnaround on the road in an uninspiring setting?
As Brett Brown did last night, you really have to wonder if they can win another game.
It looks like the losing is getting to them mentally, and is affecting both ends of the floor. More specifically, their defensive efforts—which appear to be just that, an effort at least—seem to be demoralizing to the offensive end. Philadelphia simply is not scoring as much as they were earlier this season. Granted, they lost one of their primary scorers in Evan Turner, but it’s not like Tony Wroten is not capable of scoring. More often than not, the team is failing to top 100 points in their games this season.
It’s now really time to keep an eye out for their franchise record 20-game losing streak in the 9-73 year of 1972-73. The current streak is at 13 and counting. Looking ahead, the following teams separate them and the record: The Magic, Thunder, Jazz, Knicks, Kings, Pacers, Grizzlies and Pacers. Being honest with themselves, there are maybe only two teams in there they could beat, the Jazz and Kings…maybe the Knicks…but it does not look promising. That record is firmly staring at them.
Injuries: The “usuals” for the Sixers, no Brandon Davies (finger), Nerlens Noel (knee) or Jason Richardson (knee). Aaron Afflalo is uncertain for Orlando.
Projected Lineups:
Orlando:
PG- Jameer Nelson
SG- Victor Oladipo
SF- Maurice Harkless
PF Tobias Harris
C- Nikola Vucevic
Philadelphia:
PG- Michael Carter-Williams
SG- Tony Wrotten
SF- Hollis Thompson
PF- Thaddeus Young
C- Henry Sims
Prediction: The Magic take advantage of a defense that allowed Trevor Ariza to score 40 points last night. Orlando 118-96
