Brandon Apter (@bapter23), Managing Editor
Through the first 30 games of the season, the Philadelphia 76ers have won one game. Things are bad and they aren't improving. Recent additions of Jerry Colangelo and Mike D'Antoni have brought some promise into the situation, but the Sixers continue to fail on the court when it comes to ball-handling and putting together a full 48 minutes. Turnovers have been their biggest issue and it was more of the same on Tuesday night against the Grizzlies at home. According to ESPN, while Philadelphia's 1-29 start is the NBA's worst record through the first 30 games, it's the league's eighth of that futile duration at any point in one season. Three of those notorious droughts belong to the 76ers. Tonight, in game one of their six-game road trip, the Sixers pay a visit to former Rookie of the Year and first round draft pick of theirs, Michael Carter-Williams, and the Milwaukee Bucks.
28 turnovers. 36 points off of those turnovers. That's how the Sixers lost, 104-90, at the Wells Fargo Center last night. In addition to their turnover issues, they made just 21 of their 32 foul shots, putting them in a hole they would never be able to climb out of. The Sixers trailed by eight after one and could never get close to the Grizzlies, who were led by their smaller lineup that was led by Mike Conley, who had 18 points. Marc Gasol finished with 19. Although the Sixers added another into the loss column, Jahlil Okafor continues to gain valuable experience against some of the best big men in the league. Last night, while matched up primarily against Gasol and Zack Randolph, Okafor held his own, scoring 18 points on 8-for-12 shooting. He also grabbed five rebounds and dished out two assists, but had four turnovers. Hollis Thompson did his best to provide a spark off the bench with 16 points on 6-for-9 shooting. Isaiah Canaan also put together a strong effort, dropping 15 on 5-for-8 shooting. Robert Covington and Tony Wroten combined for 11 of the teams' 28 turnovers. Though Covington hasn't played very well lately, struggling to shoot and piling up turnovers, he's confident that this road trip is what the team needs to get better.
“This road trip will really help us,” Robert Covington said. “The last road trip we were on it really brought us closer as a team and we really played well. A lot of games we were right there and just came up short. Us being away, us being together for that amount of time will help us out significantly.” [CSNPhilly.com]
After making the playoffs last season, the Bucks are struggling to repeat their successes at 11-18 this season. They are without head coach Jason Kidd, who underwenthip surgery over the last few days, and have been led by Joe Prunty, a veteran NBA assistant coach. Jerryd Bayless and Greivis Vasquez are both injured, which has hurt the Bucks depth at point guard. Like the Sixers, the Bucks are a very young team with their ideal lineup, with everyone healthy, not having a player over the age of 25. The team's average age on opening night was 24 years, 144 days. According to ESPN, only Philadelphia had a younger roster (23 years, 66 days). The Bucks have beaten the Warriors already this season, but have also lost to the team the Sixers have beaten, the Lakers. Former Sixer Michael Carter-Williams is averaging 19.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 2.0 steals while shooting 52.5 percent in his last five games.
Game Notes:
- These two teams met back on November 4th, with the Bucks claiming a close 91-87 victory in Philadelphia.
- Michael Carter-Williams is averaging 18.5 points, 6.5 assists and 2.5 steals in two games against the Sixers since being traded to Milwaukee last season. He shot 63.6 percent from the field in those games.
- Philadelphia will play six road games in 11 days. They have lost 22 straight on the road dating back to last season and are 0-17 this year.
- The combined records of the Sixers opponents on their road trip is 67-103, with the big test coming against the Clippers on the last leg of their trip.
- Last night against Memphis was the fourth game this season that the Sixers have committed 25 turnovers or more while the rest of the NBA has six such games combined.
- The Bucks have won the last seven games against the Sixers. Philadelphia has suffered six straight defeats in Milwaukee.
- Nerlens Noel 17 points and 12 rebounds in the season's first matchup between the two teams. The second year power forward had five points and eight rebounds off the bench last night.
Lineups:
Sixers
PG – Kendall Marshall – 4.8 ppg, 4.4 apg
SG – Isaiah Canaan - 10.8 ppg, 2.1 apg
SF – Robert Covington - 12.7 ppg, 2.1 spg
PF – Nerlens Noel - 10.0 ppg, 7.9 rpg
C – Jahlil Okafor - 17.6 ppg, 8.0 rpg
Injuries: Joel Embiid (broken right foot rehab, out), Carl Landry (torn ligament right wrist rehab, out)
Bucks
PG – Michael Carter-Williams - 11.6 ppg, 5.3 apg
SG - O.J. Mayo - 14.4 ppg, 3.3 apg
SF – Khris Middleton - 14.8 ppg, 3.4 apg
PF – Jabari Parker - 11.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg
C – Greg Monroe - 15.9 ppg, 11.0 rpg
Injuries: Jerryd Bayless (left ankle sprain, out), Greivis Vasquez (post-surgery right ankle, out), Tony Allen (right knee injury, questionable). Giannis Antetolounmpo (Patellar tendinitis, left knee, questionable)
Game Information:
Tip-off: 8:00pm
Location: BMO Harris Bradley Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
TV: Comcast Sportsnet
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
