By Sean Kennedy (@PhillyFastBreak)
New York 99, Philadelphia 87 – Box Score
Following the first win of the season for the Philadelphia 76ers, fans had all of about 12 hours to savor the joy of victory. Early in the work day on Wednesday, TMZ released another damning video of a second Jahlil Okafor fight in Boston last week, and the good feelings about the team immediately evaporated into the ether. Sixers nation couldn’t even have a full day of happiness.
In the wake of evidence showing Jahlil knocking someone out rather than get into a car, a suspension was inevitable and Okafor was hit with two games away from the court. Selfishly as a basketball fan, I was disappointed this meant we were denied the first meaningful on-court tussle between Okafor and the Lativian gang-banger (as Michael Rapaport would say), Kristaps Porzingis.
In the end, the game only served to strengthen Philadelphia’s fans disappointment that the team passed on Staps. He continued to show why he’s a rising star and one of the premiere feel-good stories in the league this season, tallying 17 points on 6-10 shooting, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocks. While also showing great physicality on the interior, the kid (he’s still just 20 years old) is 7’3″, but able to step out and drain threes with a beautiful-looking stroke; he went 2 for 2 from downtown against the Sixers. Not that anybody really second-guessed him at the time, but it’s looking like Sam Hinkie passing on Porzingis might be the biggest mistake of his drafting career.
Disappointingly, the absence of Okafor did not mean a return to form for Sixers big man Nerlens Noel. Noel struggled to the tune of 3-11 shooting, collected just 6 rebounds in 32 minutes, and failed to block a shot. Noel’s backslide after an outstanding rookie season has been one of the most concerning things about this year so far.
Really though, no one played well for Philadelphia, which is somewhat understandable given it was the second night of a back-to-back and dealing with the emotional release of finally grabbing that first victory. Robert Covington was quiet with just 10 points on 3-8 shooting. Isaiah Canaan wasn’t even the somewhat helpful version of himself, hitting just 4 of his team-high 15 shot attempts. As my friend put it, every Isaiah Canaan jacked 25-footer feels like a wasted opportunity for somebody who might actually be on the team in the long run.
The optimist will point to this contest basically being a schedule loss. Also, Tony Wroten is expected to return to action Saturday, which should be a huge boost for both the Sixers’ offense and the team’s overall watchability. There’s nothing quite like seeing Wroten barrel full speed into a sea of defenders in the lane. Hopefully, ACL surgery hasn’t deprived him of that quick first step.
The Sixers will be facing the Nuggets Saturday, which is certainly a winnable game against one of the worst teams in the NBA. I’d like to see this new losing streak halted well before 28 games.
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