Nov 13, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Jared McCain (20) drives against Cleveland Cavaliers center Evan Mobley (4) in the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Despite 34 points and 10 assists from Jared McCain, the Sixers fell short against the Cleveland Cavaliers with all three of Joel Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey out.
Here's what I saw.
- I don't think we're that far off from McCain earning consideration for a starting spot even when everyone is healthy. If you want to play 3D chess, teams are not playing him as a shooter right now, ostensibly because he's a rookie. So, he's getting decent space to let it fly and, to his credit, is cashing in.
But, McCain is quickly proving to be much more than just a shooter. His teammates often describe him as being "fearless". That's often a diplomatic, nondescript term that players will throw around to hype up their rookie teammates. But, it holds true when McCain is willingly putting the ball on the floor and attacking the likes of Evan Mobley in space. McCain wasn't dissuaded by misses at the rim. He didn't re-engineer his thinking to exclude the rim from his menu of options. McCain just kept trying to sneak the ball past extended arms, hoping for the gratuitous roll or a teammate to plunge in and dunk the put-back home.
We often talk about speed of the game and pace being amongst the biggest adjustments for incoming NBA players. They're conditioned to an extent. They can function efficiently at a certain game pace. But, nothing can prepare them for the speed of an NBA game. Meanwhile, there's McCain, 11 games into his NBA career, having the mindfulness and motor to relocate to open spots on the floor in the hunt for open threes after his involvement in the initial play.
He hasn't impressed only as a movement shooter, either. Cleveland could not goad McCain into speeding himself out of control. He accepted the driving lane and kept pushing until he was out of room, flinging the rock around the floor in an effort to capitalize on any openings his teammates might've had.
Perhaps the most impressive part of McCain's night was that he adapted to every single coverage the Cavaliers threw his way. They tried to blitz him out of the ball screen, he waited until the recovery or found the open teammate in the middle of the floor. They applied high pressure, he fought through the contact to get to the midrange for a barrage of jumpers. They disrespected his three-point stroke, he made Cleveland pay. A rookie guard had an answer for everything a defense threw at him.
- Nice second audition from Reggie Jackson, who looked like he was on his last legs the first time Nick Nurse looked his way. Gave the Sixers a nice scoring punch off the bench when it was clear Kyle Lowry did not have it on the second night of a back-to-back.
- You give that level of effort with your three best players out, I'll grant you a night mostly free of criticism. I will say, McCain did telegraph a few passes into turnovers when the Cavaliers showed him two defenders. But, the fact that he's seeing that type of coverage 11 games into his career is, again, impressive.
- If Nurse does put McCain in the starting five when everyone is healthy, he and Maxey will lead the Sixers to the best body language in the NBA. Hang the banner!
The Sixers (2-9) will visit the Orlando Magic (7-6) on Friday. Tip-off is 7 p.m., Eastern time. You can watch the game on NBC Sports Philadelphia.
