Winless Sixers working on closing out games
No one is perhaps more frustrated than 76ers coach Brett Brown with his team's ability to close out games. The Sixers (0-4) have religiously worked on late-game situations at the end of practice since the start of training camp.
No one is perhaps more frustrated than 76ers coach Brett Brown with his team's ability to close out games.
The Sixers (0-4) have religiously worked on late-game situations at the end of practice since the start of training camp.
However, they've failed to close out the game in losses to the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Orlando Magic. But at least those matchups were competitive. They were blown out in setbacks to the Atlanta Hawks and Charlotte Hornets.
So Friday's entire practice was dedicated to closing out games and what to do coming out of timeouts.
"We understand that that's on me," Brown said, "and that's on the team. And how do we go win the close games?"
If they do that Saturday night, it would be the biggest upset of the early season.
The Sixers entertain the defending NBA champions Cleveland Cavaliers, who are 5-0 for the first time since the 1976-77 season.
LeBron James has been his usual dominating self, averaging 22.4 points, 10.0 assists and 9.0 rebounds. Meanwhile, Kyrie Irving (26.0 points, 4.4 assists) and Kevin Love (22.0 points, 8.0 rebounds) remain his all-star caliber sidekicks.
So just keeping things competitive Saturday night might be a tough task for the Sixers, who have lost six straight to Cleveland.
The Sixers may also have a tough time in their subsequent five game against the Utah Jazz, the Indiana Pacers (twice), the Hawks and the Houston Rockets.
However, the opportunity might come in at least one of the games and maybe several other games to steal a victory.
That's why Brown keeps working on late-game situations. But they haven't experienced any positive results, thus far.
The Sixers played out of control down the stretch in their 103-97 season-opening setback to the Thunder on Oct. 26. Joel Embiid knotted the score at 97 with 50.7 seconds left. But OKC ended the game on a 6-0 as the Sixers botched two possession at the end. Then the Sixers blew an 18-point second-quarter lead against the Magic on Tuesday night. Then with the score tied at 101, Embiid turned the ball over with 6.7 seconds left. Orlando went on to take a 103-101 victory, thanks to Serge Ibaka's pair of foul shots with 1.4 remaining,
"You take young guys and try to show them and help them," Brown said working on late-game scenarios. "And when it doesn't happen, it's frustrating. From a professional coaching standpoint, that's frustrating. But we move on."
The coach has seen an improvement during the scenarios at practice. That's why he's confident that they'll break through with late-game heroics.
"If there's anything I've learned doing this is that truly good days add up," Brown said. "That's not coach speak or rhetoric. They do. We are going to keep our group together."
Bayless practices
Injured point guard Jerryd Bayless saw limited action during Friday's practice. He has been sidelined throughout the preseason and the first four games with left-wrist ligament damage. Gerald Henderson, who has been hampered by left hip soreness, did not participate in Friday's practice.
Embiid and Jahlil Okafor will remain on a 20- to 24-minute restriction.
Interest in Noel?
The Toronto Raptors once again are interested in Sixers reserve center Nerlens Noel, according to ESPN. This summer, the teams talked about a trade that would involve Noel and Raptors swingman Terrence Ross as central figures, according to reports. The Raptors need front-court depth with Jared Sullinger sidelined with a foot injury until January.
Noel is also out with an injury. The 6-foot-11, 228-pounder had surgery on Oct. 26 at the Hospital of Special Surgery in New York for an inflamed tissue above his left knee. He was originally scheduled to miss three to five weeks. However, he began his rehabilitation on Monday and might be a few more weeks after that to get in game shape.
Hail to the champs
Saturday marks the first of six "Salute Saturday" tributes at Wells Fargo Center, honoring the 1966-67 NBA championship team. The Sixers will wear throwback uniforms inspired by the 1966-67 team's road uniform.
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