The Philadelphia 76ers have looked like a lot team over their three-game losing skid. They have not found a way to score against zone defenses and their own defense has failed them. As they welcome in the Washington Wizards on Saturday, they have got to find their defense quickly against one of the league’s best offenses.
The Wizards have a victory against the Sixers earlier in the year as they used Bradley Beal and Davis Bertans in order to knock off Philadelphia at home. In the rematch, the Sixers must do a better job of keeping Bertans in check and they must find their offensive groove again.
With that said, it’s now time for the guide to Saturday’s matchup:
How to watch Sixers vs. Wizards
- Date: Saturday, December 21
- Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
- Location: Wells Fargo Center Philadelphia, PA
- TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia
Injury Report
- Sixers: NOT YET SUBMITTED
- Wizards: NOT YET SUBMITTED
Storylines
Embiid says Sixers are scared
The Sixers are one of the more talented teams in the league led by Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons surrounded by a good supporting cast of players. However, a simple zone defense has thrown everybody off their groove and focus and it has everybody overreacting. It’s something has led Embiid to believe the team is playing scared and overcomplicating things.
“I feel like, especially tonight, we were playing scared,” said Embiid. “Basketball is easy. Just shoot it, pass it, move it. If you don’t got a shot, just pass it, but tonight we didn’t make shots and defensively we were pretty bad.”
Brown concerned with the team’s psyche
The Sixers are usually a tough-minded and tough-nosed team that will normally not back down from a challenge. However, the zone defense that the Miami Heat and the Mavericks have employed over the previous two games has coach Brett Brown worried as their struggles offensively have crept into their spirit and their defense.
“Our inability lately to be put on our backheels against the zone has crept into our defense, our psyche, our spirit and I can’t stand it,” said coach Brett Brown. “This is not who we are. I feel like our competitive spirit has taken a dent because of our inability to score. Any time you get into a mood swing that affects your defense because your offense is doing something, it needs to be addressed.”
Prediction
The Sixers right now are a fragile group. It’s hard to really pinpoint which Sixers team will show up right now. Will the team that started 20-7 and had just finished off a stretch of impressive wins show up? Or will the team that has wilted under the pressure of a simple zone defense? It’s hard to really predict which one. The team needs a win in the worst way so it can be assumed that they will have a lot more urgency on Saturday to put this losing skid to bed.
Pick: Sixers? Wizards? Who knows?
Sixers vs. Wizards season series
Game 1 December 5: 119-113 Wizards
Game 2 December 21:
Game 3 March 16:
Game 4 April 3:
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