Game Preview: Sixers enter game not on historic losing streak

What happens in this game? They’ve prevented the losing streak, so what happens next?

That last win was for Brett Brown. He needed to feel good about his squad after a 26-game, two-month losing streak that plagued his team.

Surely, you would have to think a 26-game losing streak is a reflection of a coach’s team. When a team loses back-to-back games by 83 points, it’s a reflection of the coach. So Brett Brown had to be feeling the heat as many people, such as FOX 1’s Gary Payton, claimed the team quit on the Head Coach.

Their recent play showed that they still had a fighting spirit with them, and their 32-point lead showed they have not quit on their head coach after all. As the Sixers outplayed the Pistons and looked in infinitely more interested in winning the ball game, the effort reflected positively on their head coach. It showed they were still inspired, they were still interested in playing. When Brandon Jennings got himself ejected in the first quarter, it showed that the Pistons, not Brown’s losers of 26-straight, were the ones that quit.

Leaders Michael Carter-Williams and Thaddeus Young confirmed this thinking with showing their head coach, yes they do care They displayed pride for the Philadelphia name and showed they do in fact care to keep the name out of the record books. The duo combined to score a solid chunk of the points scored by Philadelphia, but the two most prominent players showed they do in fact play for Brown.

Seriously, the losing streak has been harder on him than anyone. After all, it originated from him showing up at Wing Bowl on Jan. 31. Following that appearance, the team went 1-26. But the team rallied enough to show they are still there, still fighting, and most importantly—still building.

Game Notes

  • The Sixers have struggled over their most recent chunk of games, going 1-26, but the Hawks have played poorly too. Atlanta has gone 6-29 since after the Sixers’ losing skid started.
  •  A key to snapping the skid for Philadelphia was making jump shots they should not have made. The Sixers had seven different players connect from three in the route, and nearly shot twice their season average from three.
  • The last time the Sixers won consecutive games was January 2 and 4. That final game, on the fourth, was the game day the Eagles were eliminated from the playoffs. It’s been that long.
  • The losing streak began against the Hawks. They will have a chance to resume it against Atlanta as well.

Starting Lineups:

Sixers:

PG Michael Carter-Williams

SG James Anderson

SF Hollis Thompson

PF Thaddeus Young

C Henry Sims

Hawks:

PG Jeff Teague

SG Shelvin Mack

SF DeMarre Carroll

PF Paul Millsap

C Pedro Antic

Injuries: Nerlens Noel and Jason Richardson are recovering from knee surgery and will not play. Byron Millens did not play Saturday and is day-to-day, unlikely to play. Former Sixer Kyle Korver (back) has missed the last six games and is uncertain to play on Monday.

Al Horford will not play, dealing with a pectoral injury and DeMarre Carroll (illness) is expected to return after missing one game for the Hawks.

Prediction: The Hawks start a new losing streak for the Sixers.

 

Go to top button