Losers of nine straight, the Sixers host a Golden State squad that has turned its season around post-trade deadline.
The Philadelphia 76ers have lost nine straight games to put nails around the entire perimeter of this coffin of a season. Joel Embiid and his swollen knee have mercifully been sent to a farm to live out his remaining days. Inexplicably, there are still 24 games left on this regular season schedule. 2.4 games left would feel like too many, if I’m being honest. And once again, the NBA schedule has placed this Sixers team on full display for a national audience. The NFL really landed on something with its flex scheduling for the second half of the season. The Sixers are the New York Jets. Soak it in.
On the other side of the court tonight, the Golden State Warriors are 7-1 since trading for Jimmy Butler and are back up to a tie for sixth place in the Western Conference. In addition to being a professional crank, Jimmy Buckets is still a pretty darn good basketball player, averaging 16.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists as a Warrior. We may not be able to see him shout “Tobias Harris over me” after canning a midrange jumper tonight, though, as Butler is questionable with back spasms. Jonathan Kuminga is the other notable item on the Golden State injury report, out due to a right ankle sprain.
The Sixers, of course, now have Embiid, Jared McCain and Eric Gordon all out for the season. Kyle Lowry is also out with his hip management designation. Paul George is listed as available, coming off a solid performance against the Knicks in his inaugural “I shall podcast no more” contest. Maybe fully commit to a push for championship contention before the season has completely gone to pot. I don’t know, I’m just spitballing.
In Golden State’s last game, Steph Curry exploded for 12 threes and 56 points in a 121-115 victory over the Orlando Magic. That is the sort of Sixers loss I can wholeheartedly get behind. If Philadelphia is going to lose, and believe me, we want them to lose, let’s have it happen as a result of arguably the greatest shooter ever going supernova. Maybe Tyrese Maxey battles through his taped shooting hand enough to have a fun back-and-forth for a while before Curry unfurls some vintage daggers. Let’s give the Disney Corporation what they signed up for in the broadcasting rights deal.
Currently, the Sixers sit in sixth place in the lottery standings, three games shy of Toronto for fifth place. As a reminder, jumping from sixth to fifth would increase their odds of keeping their top-6-protected first-round pick from 45.8 percent to 63.9 percent. The Raptors’ remaining slate of games looks like what an SEC football team used to schedule in non-conference play at the beginning of the season. Out-tanking the Raptors will not be easy, but I truly believe this Sixers squad has what it takes to get it done.
Game Details
When: Saturday, March 1, 2025, 8:30pm ET
Where: The Center, Philadelphia, PA
Watch: ABC, ESPN+
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers