In the first of a back-to-back road trip, the Sixers made their way down to Charlotte, braving a winter storm. Following a frustrating loss at the hands of the New York Knicks, Philadelphia hoped to get on the right track against a Hornets team that, while plucky, has yet to put together a lengthy competitive—However, that stretch may not be upon the league.
The Hornets came into this afternoon's game having won two straight. Led by All-Star LaMelo Ball and Rookie of the Year favorite Kon Knueppel, Charlotte has assembled an energetic, high-flying, sharp-shooting bunch that can win on any given night, as evidenced by their win over the OKC Thunder earlier this month.
Philadelphia came into this game shorthanded, as Joel Embiid and Paul George were out due to load management during this back-to-back. Beyond missing two of their stars, the team was simply not prepared for the matchup they were about to face.
Catching fire midway through the first quarter, the Hornets began to create some separation on the scoreboard while the Sixers struggled to get any type of shot to fall. Charlotte launched an inside-out attack that continued to find success against a Philly defense that looked simply outmatched by the sub-.500 team.
The fault of this loss lies with arguably all Sixers, but none more so than star Tyrese Maxey and head coach Nick Nurse. Now, this is not some condemnation of either, but criticism is warranted when deserved, and both deserve quite a bit in this loss.
In the past, after a Sixers loss, Maxey has frequently suggested the team "flush away" the loss, focusing on the next matchup rather than their previous failures. Tyrese Maxey will certainly want to flush away his performance in this matchup.
The offensive burden that Maxey has dealt with this season—both in minutes and usage—is worth mentioning, but the manner in which he approached this game goes beyond simply being tired. Over the course of an 82-game season, there will come times, especially for those who play as exhausting a role as Maxey does, where you come into a matchup less than your peak self. Teams will lose games they're favored in. Teams will even get blownout on a given night. But the lethargy with which Maxey approached this game is inexcusable.
As the Sixers' clear offensive engine—beyond that, as a play dubbed 'The Franchise'—Maxey has an obligation to set the tone for the rest of his team. Instead, he displayed some of his worst decision-making of the season and a clear lack of aggression. Maxey did not take his first shot until three minutes into the game and took only four total shots in the quarter, making just one. He finished the game 3-12 from the field with a season-low six points.
There was no sense of urgency from the team's leader, which has an effect on the rest of the team, especially in today's performance.
The entire team's energy level was nearly nonexistent. The offensive failures are beyond frustrating given Charlotte's "¡Olé-style defense, but the team's lack of interest defensively and in the battle for the boards is equally damnable, and much of that, in addition to falling on Maxey's lack of effort, falls on head coach Nick Nurse.
Several of Nick Nurse's decisions came back to haunt the Sixers in this matchup. As mentioned, the decision to constantly overuse Maxey, who leads the NBA in minutes per game, and rookie VJ Edgecombe, who is seventh in the league, will continue to cause trouble for Philadelphia, as it already has.
Amidst his overreliance on the young backcourt, it's also fair to question Nurse's use of second-year guard Jared McCain. The former Duke guard's struggles have been evident as he continues to work his way back from a torn meniscus in his left knee and torn UCL in his right thumb, but Nurse has often relegated the young, developing guard to the bench, instead of allowing him the opportunity to play through his demons and return to form—something the Sixers need now more than ever between the usage of Maxey and Edgecombe, the struggles of Quentin Grimes, and the occational absences of Joel Embiid and Paul George.
McCain played well—admittedly only during garbage time—scoring 16 points, making 4-8 shots from deep. Whatever is holding Nurse back from giving McCain the opportunity to play through his recovery—either at the NBA or G League level—has to come to a head sooner than later, for the entire team's sake.
Philadelphia now heads back home to face the Milwaukee Bucks without Giannis Antetokounmpo. With Embiid and Paul George likely set for their returns, the Sixers will hope for a bounce-back game in night two of their back-to-back.
Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. Tuesday evening.
