An unbalanced loss to Portland highlights Sixers' problems without Joel Embiid – The Athletic



[ad_1]

Sitting on the podium with Tobias Harris, Jimmy Butler was visibly darker than usual. He was asked why.

"Because they beat us twice," Butler said. "Easily, too."

Butler was referring to the Portland Trail Blazers, and they did it. Playing without Joel Embiid for the second consecutive game after the all-star break, the Sixers fell to Portland 130-115 in a match that was not even so tight. Here are five observations of a poor performance on a rare Saturday morning. (Also be sure to read Jackson Frank's account of the game.)

1. Cleaning the glass

Even without Embiid, one would think that the Sixers could face home against a good Blazers team that shot 5-23 out of three. All the more so when the Sixers go 9-24 from the deepest.

The biggest splitter between the two teams was on the boards, where the Blazers smoked the Sixers on both sides. By cleaning the glass, Portland bounced 44 …

[ad_2]

Source link