The Portland Trail Blazers begin their six-game road trip tonight against the Philadelphia 76ers. The 76ers have high aspirations but an even higher rate of injury.
76ers’ Offensive Struggles
The 76ers have rounded into one of the league’s preeminent rim-finishing teams behind the stellar offensive production of Tyrese Maxey. Or, at least, they’ve tried to be. Despite sporting the fifth-highest rim frequency in the league, they are 29th in rim efficiency. In fact, from all spots on the floor except the long mid-range, the 76ers are below-average in efficiency.
With such a putrid offense, one might ask how they are eighth in the Eastern Conference. For one, it’s the Eastern Conference. Also, their remarkable collection of athletes makes for one of the league’s leading defenses.
Injuries Decimate Philadelphia’s Ranks
Looking up and down their roster, you would expect the narrative to be different. Surely Maxey and Joel Embiid – alongside what remains of Paul George – should comprise, at the very least, an above-average offense. Then you realise that employing Joel Embiid also includes employing Joel Embiid’s knees (he has only played 33 games this season), and Paul George has been on drug-related suspension since January. With the 76ers losing Maxey to a tendon injury in his pinky finger, there remains little semblance of a competent NBA offense. VJ Edgecombe, despite being a supremely talented downhill force, cannot yet shoulder the responsibilities required of him to win games.
The 76ers are coming into this game the husk of a team that already felt rather husk-ish. Adem Bona stands as Philadelphia’s lone healthy center, meaning the Blazers are poised to dominate on the interior.
- Adem Bona is one of the league’s preeminent shot blockers.
- Andre Drummond remains one of the NBA’s best rebounders.
- Maxey and VJ Edgecombe round out the lineup to form one of the league’s better perimeter defenses, and, shockingly, one of the league’s better shot blocking backcourts, as well.
Blazers Aim to Capitalise
After a heartbreaking loss to a red-hot Charlotte Hornets squad at home, the Blazers got their get-back against the Utah Jazz. Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson combined for 50 points on an efficient 18-for-30 from the field. Scoot Henderson, in particular, continues to inspire belief in the law of averages. He cashed in on 5 of his 7 threes against the Jazz.
Though the Blazers continue to face the same familiar struggles – turnovers, poor three-point shooting – they ag
As always, though, everyone in the NBA is, by definition, an NBA player, meaning anyone can win, lose, or go for 83 points on any given night.