Go Birds. But also, the Sixers take on the Giannis-less Bucks this afternoon.
It’s finally here. The day that Philadelphia sports fans have been waiting for anxiously for weeks.
I’m obviously talking about the 76ers visiting the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday afternoon. Did you think I meant something else?
To make matters even more exciting, the matchup is going to be short at least one star. The Bucks have already ruled out Giannis Antetokounmpo with a left calf strain. He is joined on the Milwaukee injury report by Pat Connaughton and Liam Robbins, both questionable for Sunday.
For the Sixers, Joel Embiid is questionable for left knee injury management. Guerschon Yabusele is probable with right knee soreness after being sidelined for the Sixers’ last contest against the Detroit Pistons this past Friday. Paul George is available (left finger splint).
That Friday bout with the Pistons, by the way, was the worst effort the Sixers’ have put up all season. By halftime, they were already down 78-49 and it didn’t get much better from there. Making the slaughter frankly inexcusable, the Pistons did not even have Cade Cunningham available for that game.
If the Sixers play the same way they did Friday, they’re going to get absolutely demolished again — even without Antetokounmpo on the floor — and they’ll deserve it. Not much more analysis needed on that. They still have available players up and down their depth chart, from Damian Lillard to Taurean Prince, that will gladly take advantage of the Sixers if they decide to play an embarrassing level of basketball again.
The Bucks, however, haven’t exactly been on a tear themselves. Doc Rivers’ squad has dropped six of their last eight contests. Just before the trade deadline, they shipped 12-year Buck Khris Middleton to the Washington Wizards to acquire Kyle Kuzma — a trade that received mixed reactions from fans and the press. Kuzma made his Bucks debut on Friday, putting up 12 points on 4-for-13 field goal shooting (3-for-8 from long range) with seven rebounds and an assist.
The Sixers and Bucks tip off at 2 p.m. ET.
But let’s be honest, you’re only going to watch this game if you need a distraction/time-passer to get to 6:30 p.m.
Go Birds.
Game details
When: Sunday, Feb. 9, 2 p.m. ET
Where: Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI
Watch: ABC
Radio: 97.5 The Fanatic
Follow: @LibertyBallers