Nov 8, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Jared McCain (20) shoots a three point basket against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images Jonathan Hui
The Sixers were more competitive in their second game in Los Angeles. But, with Tyrese Maxey joining Joel Embiid in street clothes, they did not have enough power to keep up with the Lakers.
Here's what I saw.
- Caleb Martin had a really encouraging start to this game. He hit a three very early and looked OK shooting it. Not all that surprising, he let it fly as soon as he caught the ball and did not spend any time thinking about it. But, beyond that, he had a strong sense for cutting into spaces to help relieve ball pressure, serving as the release valve to break the clog and get the ball moving back to the middle of the floor.
His chemistry with Kyle Lowry is also palpable and helped keep the offense moving in the first quarter. Martin relocated around Lowry quite well, sliding around the floor to change the help defender's angle to the ball and thus creating different pockets of space.
- Philadelphia's offense looking much better, as a whole, was a storyline adjacent to that Lowry-Martin dynamic. They were far more creative with their actions when the starting lineup was in the game than they've been in a while.
One of the first possessions of the game was a corner split action that yielded Paul George a leading foot on a backdoor cut on the baseline. A short while later, they ran a staggered pin-down to get Lowry an open three on a baseline out-of-bounds play.
That's the juice you need to get quality shots when you're under-manned. And it's not as if you're reinventing the wheel with those actions. They're basic sets.
- KJ Martin added to his string of good moments in this game. Stepped confidently into a corner three and laced it, made a handful of rotations to blow up plays at the rim on defense and had some great cuts for dunks.
- This was easily Jared McCain's best game as a pro. He offered some juice shooting the ball, knocking down four of his nine attempts from beyond the arc. He was also creative off the dribble, adapting to the pace of the game and not letting his defender speed him up. He had a couple of crafty finishes at the rim en route to leading the Sixers in scoring on the night.
- Nick Nurse gambled with a Lowry-McCain-Martin-Martin-Guerschon Yabusele lineup in the first half and it actually worked. But, that is a dangerous game to play with LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the court. In fact, as soon as Caleb Martin was replaced, it went to hell.
I don't mind tinkering with different combinations. But, what Nurse is doing right now doesn't make sense. He's not giving George - or really any of his best players not named Tyrese Maxey - long stints. He's making substitutions every couple of minutes. He's willing to let these lineups that aren't logically viable work through some struggles. It's similar to Rob Thomson going to Yunior Marte for multiple innings in a game. Just feels like you're throwing in the towel.
While we're on this topic, I cannot stand the way they're using George right now. No extended minutes. No chance to get into a rhythm. Just a couple minutes here and there as if to say "Here's the big name we got! See!"
- Nurse said that Reggie Jackson would get a chance in the regular rotation while Maxey is out with his hamstring injury. Friday was his first chance. It went horrifically. Jackson's strategy is hunting switches and isolating. But, he cannot create any advantages. So, he's just flinging up deep threes and praying for some luck. Combine that with some really untimely fouls, and you get a horrendous outing.
- Kelly Oubre Jr. has been absolutely horrendous on offense lately, and Friday was no different. He lives for contested shots in inefficient spaces, challenges players he has no chance of finishing over at the rim and refuses to finish with his right hand. Feels like a total regression back to everything he was billed as before signing with the Sixers two summers ago.
- Caleb Martin's shooting mechanics looked much better in this game.
- You know what you do if you find yourself agreeing to make entry passes to Andre Drummond in the post against Davis? You take a seat on the bench. What in the world is going on?
The Sixers (1-7) will host the Charlotte Hornets (4-5) on Sunday. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m., Eastern time. You can catch the game on NBC Sports Philadelphia.
