CAMDEN, N.J.–The Philadelphia 76ers got back to work on Thursday as they prepare for a rematch with the lowly Detroit Pistons. After the Sixers led by as many as 30 on Wednesday and sent the Pistons to a 21st straight loss, those same 2-22 Pistons will visit the Wells Fargo Center on Friday.
As the Sixers prepare for the rematch, one can assume that Friday will likely be more of the same. Detroit has been terrible all season and these teams are not close to being evenly matched. The Sixers have Joel Embiid and a bunch of experienced and proven veterans while the Pistons are still relying on youngsters.
“For us, we feel like we got to win the ones that we need to win and we got to win in a fashion that we want to,” said De’Anthony Melton. “Beating a team twice in a row, I mean; it’s always gonna be tough. We expect them to come out there playing harder, watching the film of what that did and what they did, try to come out better. So we expect that stuff, but at the same time, we got to get better, too.”
Melton is correct. Beating the same team twice in a row in the NBA is extremely tough no matter the records. The Pistons have not won a game since Oct. 28 and there is a pride factor that plays into not only wanting to finally end this ridiculous losing skid, but to also avenge the loss they took on Wednesday at home.
“I think the big thing, again, I know this is very repetitive, but you’re interested to see what they’re going to change from that they didn’t like with what the things they did schematically or against our personnel, right?” coach Nick Nurse said of the Pistons. “So again, I always say it always starts with are their coverages going to be on Joel? What are they going to do to limit what he did last night? Or are they going to try to limit all the other guys or whatever so we always go in there with a kind of a fresh look.”
Detroit sent a ton of aggressive double teams toward Embiid on Wednesday night and with Jalen Duren out again for the Pistons, one can assume it will be more of the same on Friday. That’s something that Nurse and his staff will have to be ready for.
“When the game starts is what are we looking for and we prepare,” Nurse continued. “I thought we did a decent job because they did mix it up some. I thought we did a good job when they doubled him of getting it out. Especially, early. I think we got some kick-out 3s early in the game and that’s always a great start.”
When the Sixers can move the ball as they did on Wednesday night in Detroit, that’s when they have the most success and it allows the offense to keep flowing positively.
“It’s kind of like when a team goes zone,” Nurse finished. “If you can hit that first 3 against that zone, all of a sudden it’s hard to stay in it sometimes. So it’s kind of hard to stay in schemes when you either get that basket cut for a layup or the catch and shoot 3.”
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