Sixers Notes: Embiid, Schedule, Yabusele
All-Star center Joel Embiid and his Sixers are finally looking like the team many NBA observers expected following a productive offseason, writes Tony Jones of The Athletic.
Philadelphia is on a four-game winning streak and has won eight of its last 10 contests. At 13-17, the team is mere percentage points behind the 14-18 Pistons, who are currently the Eastern Conference’s No. 10 seed and final play-in team.
Jones notes that Embiid has been playing more like his MVP self of late, re-emphasizing his game in the post.
“I’ve been saying for a while, we’re just starting to play a lot better,” Sixers head coach Nick Nurse said. “We’ve gone a long stretch where we are starting to take whatever has come. We have a few minor injuries, and we just keep on rolling. We are dealing with some foul trouble, and we just keep on rolling. What I’m most happy with is that we’re starting to get a defensive mentality to us. And that can take you a long ways.”
There’s more out of Philadelphia:
- Embiid is sitting out Wednesday’s road clash against Sacramento with a sprained left foot, reports Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link). It’s the first game of a back-to-back set for the 76ers.
- Sixers forward Guerschon Yabusele is making the most of his second NBA opportunity, as he relayed to Spencer Davies of of RG. Yabusele had previously played in the league from 2017-19, before moving abroad when NBA work had dried up for him. His play for Real Madrid and his native Team France of late earned him a look from Philadelphia. “It’s a crazy year for me,” Yabusele told Davies. “I always say the resolve that we had in Real Madrid and then go to Olympics, be able to have that silver medal but also compete at the highest level and be able to be on the court with the best guy in the world, just that was amazing for me. And then, to be able to come back to the league to get the contract. It’s been just full of emotion, you know?”
- In case you missed it, Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week on Monday.
Atlantic Notes: George, Raptors, Hart, Brown
After signing him to a four-year, maximum-salary free agent contract this summer, the Sixers anticipated that former nine-time All-Star forward Paul George would help goose their scoring, but his contributions have been erratic so far, observes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Through 19 healthy games, the 34-year-old is averaging just 15.8 points per game on .404/.314/.787 shooting splits. His shooting percentages from the field overall and from long range in particular represent the second-worst rates of his 15-season career. In his last four contests, George’s long-range woes have gotten even worse. The six-time All-NBA honoree shot just 4-of-25 from deep.
Sixers All-Star center Joel Embiid, however, is confident that George will bounce back as a shooter.
“He’s going to be great,” Embiid said. “I’m not worried about it. I think as we keep going and we start figuring out the best way to move forward, I think he’ll be way better than he’s been, more efficient, which he’s always been. Especially catch and shoot [and] shot creation.”
Pompey cites George’s difficulty integrating into the team’s offense next to Embiid as part of the problem.
There’s more out of the Atlantic Division:
- A lackluster defensive effort from the Raptors against Memphis on Thursday, in a 155-126 defeat, serves as just the latest example of a possible long-term issue for Toronto’s young core, writes Eric Koreen of The Athletic. Toronto already ranked 23rd in defensive efficiency heading into the loss to Memphis and has since dropped a few more spots. As Koreen notes, while the Raptors have been effective at limiting opponent three-point attempts, the team has a tendency to foul too frequently and is too lenient with permitting enemy scoring within five feet of the basket.
- Knicks wing Josh Hart has been a critical component of New York’s defense this season, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Post. The Knicks are 22-10 on the year, and winners of 16 of their last 20 contests. “My game is very simple,” Hart said. “I don’t go out there and try to do ball screens and 18 dribbles, dribble combos and all that. I keep it simple. If I don’t got a layup or a shot, I swing the ball, get these guys the ball. And fit in around them.” The team’s defensive rating this season ranks 14th out of 30 clubs, a slight step down from its No. 10 mark in 2023/24.
- Celtics All-Star wing Jaylen Brown is making a real case for a spot on an All-Defensive team, per Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. “I feel like I’m one of the best two-way players in the world,” Brown said. “So I try to hang my hat on that side by doing different assignments like picking up guys full court, chasing guys off screens, switching onto bigs. That takes a lot of energy. Then to have to go back down and try to score 24, 25 a night, get other guys going. But defense is where our team kind of needs to set the tone and hang our hats with physicality, toughness, and I feel like I’m the leader of that, so I’ve got to hold myself accountable.” Himmelsbach notes that the athletic small forward has often been using his work on the defensive end of the court to kick off his explosive offense.
Joel Embiid Fined $75K By NBA
Sixers center Joel Embiid has been fined $75K, the NBA announced today in a press release (Twitter link).
Embiid was ejected from Monday’s game vs. San Antonio for arguing with and confronting an official about a foul call, but this fine wasn’t related to that incident. According to the league, the $75K penalty is for “making obscene gestures on the playing court” during the first half of Philadelphia’s win in Boston on Wednesday.
The NBA didn’t specify exactly which gestures Embiid was being fined for, but there were a couple candidates captured on ESPN’s broadcast. After being fouled on a first-quarter basket, the star center made a subtle crotch-chopping gesture while lying on his back on the court (Twitter video link). He also appeared to flip off the home crowd after making a three-pointer in the final seconds of the first half (Twitter video link).
Embiid was fined during both the 2022/23 and ’23/24 seasons for “obscene gestures” on the court (crotch chops, in both cases), so his history – along with the bigger Christmas Day stage – may have been a factor in the more significant penalty this time around.
Embiid’s cap hit this season is approximately $51.4MM, so the fine represents a drop in the bucket for the former MVP.
Embiid is questionable to play on Saturday in Utah, with the Sixers’ injury report citing both his sinus fracture and a left foot sprain, notes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link).
Sixers Notes: Embiid, Maxey, Martin, Yabusele
The Sixers didn’t panic after a disastrous start to the season, and they’re starting to look like the team everyone expected when they revamped their roster over the summer, writes Tim Bontemps of ESPN. Philadelphia continued its turnaround on Wednesday with a victory at Boston, winning for the eighth time in its past 11 games.
The team has weathered a long string of early-season injuries, with the Christmas showdown marking just the sixth game when Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George have all been available. Embiid had a minor pre-game scare when he twisted his ankle while stepping on a security guard’s foot, but he was able to put up 27 points and nine rebounds in 31 minutes.
“We got a high ceiling,” Embiid said. “It’s all about us putting it together. I don’t think that was close to our best basketball, but we got a pretty good chance. So it’s all about looking for some luck and staying healthy.”
Maxey also had a huge night with 33 points and 12 assists, and Bontemps notes that the Sixers did the little things well, such as beating the Celtics 13-6 in the turnover battle and making all 19 of their free throws. Philadelphia is now just one game away from the play-in tournament and 3.5 games behind Miami for sixth place and a guaranteed playoff spot.
“I think the biggest thing that we’ve really done is we’ve come together a lot more,” Maxey said. “I feel like we had a lot of new guys. I don’t know how many new people we have, like seven or something like that, and it’s difficult. You don’t know how you want to play. You don’t know what combinations go with each other. I think we’re finally figuring that out.”
There’s more on the Sixers:
- Caleb Martin has experienced shoulder, back and neck injuries since the season began, but this week marks the first time he’s been able to play without pain, according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Martin enjoyed one of his best games of the season on Wednesday, scoring 23 points while going 7-of-9 from three-point range. “He’s much healthier now than he was two weeks ago,” coach Nick Nurse said. “The first thing he said to me was … ‘Coach I feel so much better physically.'”
- Philadelphia had success with a small-ball lineup as Guerschon Yabusele was plus-18 in 21 minutes of action, Pompey adds. Kyle Lowry (plus-20) and Reggie Jackson (plus-11) frequently played together while Maxey was resting, and the Sixers were able to frustrate Boston with a zone defense.
- The Christmas Day matchup with the Celtics was significant for Yabusele, who started his NBA career in Boston before being waived in 2019, notes Gina Mizell of The Philadelphia Inquirer. He spent five years overseas and eventually became a star with Real Madrid before an outstanding Olympics performance opened the door for another NBA opportunity. “I’ve got to be the hungriest on the court,” Yabusele said. “So just try to help the team and play with a lot of energy and a lot of force. … I understand, also, that it’s rare to have a second chance in the NBA, so when I’m out here, I just try to compete the best that I can.”
Atlantic Notes: C. Johnson, Raptors, Barnes, Embiid, Maxey
As Nets forward Cameron Johnson waits to see if he’ll be traded, he’s finding himself at the top of opposing teams’ game plans, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. A string of injuries, along with last week’s trade of Dennis Schröder to Golden State, has forced Johnson to take on a larger role in Brooklyn’s offense. Utah was the latest team to adjust its defensive approach, trapping Johnson repeatedly on Saturday while forcing him into six turnovers and a 2-0f-9 shooting night from three-point range.
“The one thing — obviously good job on them for blitzing CJ — but six turnovers to five assists, it’s not good enough,” coach Jordi Fernandez said. “The intentions were good, he was throwing the pass to the short roll. It was just the execution was not good. For the most part, he knew what we’re supposed to do, he’s just never been in that position. Every time Cam Thomas has been blitzed, we’ve got a clean execution out of it. If you turn it over every time, or a lot of times you got blitzed [it’s bad]. In the second half, he was better, but those turnovers, for sure we paid for it.”
It may be a short-term problem, as Johnson is considered likely to be moved before the February 6 trade deadline. The Thunder and Kings are among the teams that have reportedly expressed interest, and Lewis states that Johnson’s production and a contract that takes up just 13% of the cap make him the team’s top trade asset. In the meantime, Fernandez wants his players to do a better job of adjusting to the new defensive looks.
“We should have known how to space the floor versus blitz, especially the middle of the floor,” he said. “For the most part, when we executed right we had the shots that we wanted. Obviously, turning it over is not what we’re supposed to do, and we’ve got to be better.”
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- Late-game execution continued to be a problem for the Raptors in Sunday’s four-point loss to Houston, observes Eric Koreen of The Athletic. Toronto led for much of the night, but had too many empty possessions with the game on the line. The team could use Immanuel Quickley, who is recovering from a partial tear of his ulnar collateral ligament, and Koreen states that he was able to take part in Saturday’s practice, although he wasn’t cleared for contact. Koreen adds that finding a player who can create his own shot should be a priority in the draft, noting that Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper may be more proficient in that area than projected top pick Cooper Flagg.
- A lethargic performance from Scottie Barnes could be a cause for concern, contends Michael Grange of Sportsnet, although Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic attributed it to rust from recent injuries. In his second game since returning from a sprained ankle, Barnes had six points on 2-of-15 shooting and launched unsuccessful three-point attempts on his first seven shots. “As you can see, he’s not being himself,” Rajakovic said. “He’s banged up, he got hit in his hip the last game, [there’s] his ankle and there’s been a couple of things bothering him. He’s still not himself, he’ll be better.”
- Lack of cohesion has been a big factor in the Sixers‘ slow start, notes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Joel Embiid is expected to play tonight against San Antonio, which would mark just the fifth time this season he’s been on the court alongside Tyrese Maxey and Paul George. Maxey is on the injury report with an illness, but he’s listed as probable to suit up, Pompey tweets.
Atlantic Notes: Drummond, Embiid, Whitehead, Quickley
With Joel Embiid missing a majority of the Sixers’ games so far, Andre Drummond has played an unheralded role in Philadelphia, not just on the court but also as a respected locker room voice, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey.
Drummond, who signed a two-year, $10MM with the Sixers during the summer, is averaging 7.1 points and 8.3 rebounds in 19.8 minutes per game across 23 outings (14 starts). That’s his highest MPG average and the most starts he has made since the 2021/22 season.
“I’m at a point now where I’ve done everything individually, accolade-wise,” Drummond said. “A lot of things that guys in this league haven’t done, I’ve done it already, individually. My goal now is to win. And whatever capacity that comes in, you know, I’m down to do for the team. Do I want to play more? Of course, who doesn’t want to play more? But that’s not best for the team right now.”
We have more from the Atlantic Division:
- Embiid’s latest injury was a right sinus fracture but he was able to rack up 34 points against Charlotte this week. The Sixers star said he’s stopping feeling sorry for himself when he gets injured, Pompey writes. “A lesson that I learned is stop feeling bad about myself, live day by day, enjoy the good people around, the positive and not focus on the negative,” he said.
- Dariq Whitehead has only appeared in three games with the Nets this season but the 2023 first-rounder isn’t upset. He’s actually glad to be spending time with the Long Island Nets, since being in the G League gives the forward an opportunity to play regular minutes. “I was very clear with my agent that I needed to continue to play,” he told Eric Slater of Clutch Points (hat tip to NetsDaily.com). “I knew we had some guys that were injured, some older guys, and I knew they were gonna come back and get back in the rotation. So I was very adamant with my agent that I needed to go back down to the G League and play. That was a big boost for me.”
- Immanuel Quickley is inching closer to a return after missing 17 games due to a left elbow injury. The Raptors guard, who also had an eight-game absence early in the season due to a pelvic injury, went through a light practice Saturday and was a full participant in all non-contact elements, according to Michael Grange of Sportsnet. He’ll know he’s ready to suit up again when he can throw all the one-handed passes a point guard needs with his left hand, Grange adds.
Injury Notes: Strus, Embiid, Suggs, Booker, Nets
Cavaliers wing Max Strus, who initially hoped to make his season debut last Friday, is being listed as questionable for tonight’s Central Division showdown with the Bucks and has a chance to suit up for the first time this season, writes Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com.
Strus sustained a hip contusion early in the preseason and was nearing a return from that injury when he sprained his right ankle during an individual workout just days before the season opener. He has been recovering from that sprain for the last two months.
“Nine weeks is a very long time,” Strus said on Thursday. “It’s been hard. There’s been definitely dark days. But this is the best team. Best vibes ever been around. These guys have made it easy and kept me involved and kept me around and made sure to reach out at times when I needed it. I’m itching to get back.”
As Fedor writes, Strus’ impending return is coming at a good time, given that the player who replaced him at small forward in the starting five – Isaac Okoro – is now sidelined with an injury of his own. Strus will be on a minutes restriction upon returning, so he may not reclaim his starting role right away, Fedor writes, but there’s excitement within the organization about how he’ll fit in head coach Kenny Atkinson‘s offense.
“It’s been fun to watch from the outside, but also frustrating that I haven’t been able to be a part of it. Hopefully sometime soon I could join the party,” Strus said. “The way we’ve played offense and scored the ball, it’s kind of everything I’ve wanted to do since I’ve been here. We struggled with that last year.”
Here are a few more injury notes from around the NBA:
- Sixers star Joel Embiid (sinus fracture) practiced on Wednesday and Thursday and is considered questionable to play on Friday vs. Charlotte, tweets Tim Bontemps of ESPN. The 76ers announced on Monday that Embiid would be reevaluated in one week, but it sounds like he has a good chance to return to the court before that one-week evaluation date.
- Magic guard Jalen Suggs sustained an ankle injury on Thursday vs. Oklahoma City, as Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel tweets. Suggs injured the ankle late in the first half and started the third quarter, but was pulled after less than four minutes and didn’t play the rest of the night. “As he comes out in the second (half) I just saw there wasn’t a high pace,” head coach Jamahl Mosley explained. “I mean, there were moments of it but I just want to make sure he’s going to be OK for the long haul.” Orlando is already playing without forwards Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, so the team will be hoping Suggs doesn’t have to miss much – if any – time.
[UPDATE: Suggs has been listed as probable to play on Saturday vs. Miami, per Beede.] - Suns guard Devin Booker exited Thursday’s game vs. Indiana in the third quarter with left groin tightness and didn’t return, writes Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. Booker’s status for Saturday’s game vs. Detroit remains unclear.
- Nets guards Cam Thomas (left hamstring strain) and Ziaire Williams (left knee sprain) are making progress in their respective recoveries but aren’t yet cleared for contact, according to head coach Jordi Fernandez (story via Bridget Reilly of The New York Post). “They’ve been able to shoot, and that’s all they’re doing right now,” Fernandez said. “It’s step by step.” Meanwhile, Nets forward Trendon Watford was out for Thursday’s game due to left hamstring soreness — Watford missed the first 13 games of the season due to a left hamstring strain.
Sixers Notes: McCain, Gordon, Embiid, George
Jared McCain‘s unexpected early-season emergence as a productive rotation player had been one of the only positive stories for the Sixers this fall, so his teammates are understandably disappointed that the rookie’s progress will be halted by a meniscus tear, which will sideline him indefinitely.
“You hate it for him,” Sixers forward Caleb Martin said, according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. “He’s playing at such a high level, man. He’s such a great kid, and brings such good energy, and you know that does really hurt. Everybody feels for him and really, really hates that for him. It just (stinks).”
“I think it’s definitely going to be hard (to replace him),” big man Guerschon Yabusele added. “I think Jared is one of a kind, a kid with a lot of energy, no fear, being able to bring so many good things for us on offense. I think it’s going to be hard.”
The Sixers announced that McCain will require surgery, but it remains unclear what kind of procedure he’ll undergo. As Jeff Stotts of In Street Clothes tweets, the location of a meniscus tear determines whether the cartilage can be repaired or if it must be removed. The recovery timeline for a removal is often measured in weeks, whereas a full repair typically sidelines a player for multiple months.
Here’s more on the 76ers:
- Veteran shooting guard Eric Gordon, an offseason free agent addition, fell out of Philadelphia’s rotation after struggling early in the season, but played 26 minutes and made three 3-pointers on Monday in his first appearance since November 30. Head coach Nick Nurse suggested prior to Monday’s game that Gordon was “one of the candidates” to play more minutes as a result of McCain’s injury. “I think the first step is if somebody is out of the rotation, what are they doing to try to get themselves back in, right?” Nurse said, per Pompey. “Eric has come in here (on Saturday) and had a great workout. He’s trying to get himself back in there. He’s trying to stay ready and be ready to go.”
- Joel Embiid‘s sinus fracture is “not nearly as severe” as the two orbital bone fractures the star center previously sustained, Nurse said on Monday, according to Steve Reed of The Associated Press. While Nurse acknowledged Embiid’s “breathing isn’t going to be easy for a little bit” and the Sixers ruled him out for at least one week, it’s possible his absence won’t extend much beyond that. According to Stotts (Twitter link), Embiid’s first orbital fracture sidelined him for 22 days, while the second kept him out for eight days, though in each of those cases he returned in the postseason, which likely sped up his timeline.
- Paul George‘s performance in Monday’s win over Charlotte was very encouraging, according to Pompey, who says the star forward was moving as well as he has all season, having shed his bulky knee brace. George’s involvement in the offense – or lack thereof – has been a concern as of late, but his 33 points and 20 field goal attempts vs. the Hornets both represented season highs.
Joel Embiid Out At Least One Week With Sinus Fracture
Former NBA MVP Joel Embiid will miss at least one week due to the right sinus fracture he sustained in Friday’s loss to Indiana, the Sixers announced in a press release (Twitter link via Chris Haynes).
Embiid, who had already been ruled out for Monday’s game in Charlotte, will be reevaluated in a week.
Embiid exited Friday’s game just before halftime after being struck in the face by Pacers wing Bennedict Mathurin and didn’t return in the second half. Mathurin and Embiid were battling for a rebound under the Sixers’ basket when Mathurin’s left forearm and elbow made hard contact with the the right side of Embiid’s face and the bridge of his nose (Twitter video link via Bleacher Report).
Friday’s contest was just the sixth of 23 Sixers games that Embiid has played this season. He has missed time due to left knee swelling and was also suspended three games for a locker room run-in with a reporter.
If there’s a silver lining to Embiid’s latest injury absence, it’s that Philadelphia only has three games this week. After Monday’s contest, the 76ers will host the Hornets on Friday, then travel to Cleveland on Saturday for a back-to-back. Their next game after that is Monday vs. San Antonio.
Unfortunately, the 30-year-old center wasn’t the only Sixer injured on Friday, as rookie guard Jared McCain suffered a torn meniscus in his left knee and requires surgery. Philadelphia’s 2024 first-round pick is out indefinitely.
Eastern Notes: Pistons Defense, Embiid, George, Ball
The Pistons have lost four of their last five games and eight of their last 11. That’s due to defensive issues that they are trying to clean up after playing just one game this past week.
“We’ve had some slippage because we haven’t had a ton of practice time,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff told Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press. “This week has been really, really good for us to be able to get that practice time. And then obviously you play good offensive teams like we’ve played through this stretch, that’s gonna have an impact on it also.”
Guarding the perimeter has been their biggest problem. They’ve dropped to the bottom five in the league in defensive three-point field goal percentage (37.7 percent). They’ll look to bounce back against Miami on Monday.
“You notice and try to recognize things that are trending,” Bickerstaff said. “I think our three-point defense has slipped as of late as far as the quality of shots we’re giving up, the percentages that teams are making from those spots, and the breakdowns that are leading to those. I think we have shown some pretty consistent stretches of it, but we haven’t put together the four quarters that we’re looking for.”
We have more from the Eastern Conference:
- Sixers star center Joel Embiid has officially been listed as out for their game against Charlotte on Monday due to a sinus fracture, Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer tweets. Embiid’s injury occurred during Philadelphia’s game against Indiana on Friday when he was struck in the face by Pacers wing Bennedict Mathurin.
- The Sixers need to get Paul George more involved in the offense, Pompey writes. He is averaging 15.9 points per game while shooting just 31.7% from deep. George has averaged at least 21.5 PPG every year since the 2015/16 season. “I think just moving a little more, just finding my way of moving,” George said. “Running the floor a little bit better. “I think we got to allow each other to create space. So I have to cut to the nail sometimes to allow Tyrese (Maxey) to play in the open court, then I got to do it. But I think for sure, just more clarity for myself.”
- Hornets star guard LaMelo Ball appears to be on the verge of returning to action, having been listed as questionable to play on Monday vs. Philadelphia due to a left calf injury, according to Charlotte’s PR department (Twitter link). Ball hasn’t played since November 27.