It’s been five months since Jimmy Butler decided to leave the Philadelphia 76ers for the Miami Heat in a sign-and-trade after 55 games with the franchise and a nice playoff run. Five months of fans dealing with anger and shock over the Sixers losing a player of such star caliber.
On Saturday night, they’ll finally be able to unleash that pent up anger.
The Sixers will look to make it four wins in a row when they welcome in Butler and the red hot Heat who are sitting at 11-3 after they knocked off the Chicago Bulls on Friday. Philadelphia will be looking to remain undefeated at home after they beat the San Antonio Spurs on Friday and both teams will be playing on the second night of a back-to-back.
With that said, it’s time for the preview with everything that comes with it:
How to watch Sixers vs. Heat:
- Date: Saturday, November 23
- Time: 7:30 p.m. EST
- Location: Wells Fargo Center Philadelphia, PA
- TV: NBATV, NBC Sports Philadelphia
Injury Report
- Sixers: NOT YET SUBMITTED
- Heat: NOT YET SUBMITTED
Storylines
Embiid’s relationship with Butler
Sixers All-Star Joel Embiid has made it clear that he and Butler still talk on a regular basis and he has made it known that he is a close friend of his. However, once between the lines, that friendship goes out the window and it’s time for work. Embiid understands that more than anybody as he stated:
It doesn’t matter, we’ve got to get the win. That’s my guy, obviously we talk a lot, but we’ve got to get the win. They(Miami) have been doing pretty good. They’re a pretty good team, so it’s going to be a challenge. We’ve got to come out and be ready like we did tonight and not mess around. At the end of the day, it’s all about winning the game.
Praise for Simmons
The Sixers All-Star point guard has received a ton of criticism over his lack of shooting, but that doesn’t mean he’ll back down. No matter what obstacle is thrown his way, he always seems to stand tall and bounce back. That’s something that caught coach Brett Brown’s eye after the win on Friday as he stated:
I see it in him, when he missed some free throws, it didn’t surprise me, like he was going to come back and make some. He doesn’t melt. Ben Simmons does not melt and I think that he, there’s an inner strength and confidence that I see at a young age that he bounces back.
Prediction
The Heat are more than just Butler. They have a roster filled with guys that only the hardcore NBA junkies are aware of, but guys like Duncan Robinson, Bam Adebayo, Kendrick Nunn, and others are stepping up and playing integral roles in the team’s success. The Sixers are the more talented team on paper, but this certainly will not be a cakewalk by any means. The Sixers better buckle down and be prepared for a fight, because that’s exactly what they’ll be getting.
Pick: Sixers squeak this one out
Sixers vs. Heat season series
Game 1 November 23:
Game 2 December 18:
Game 3 December 28:
Game 4 February 3:
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