The Sixers' latest defeat to the Knicks has left fans reeling, with Joel Embiid's performance on display for all to see. However, it was not enough to secure a 3-0 sweep of New York this season.
For half, Embiid, the team's star center, had everyone's attention, racking up 28 points in the first quarter alone and leading his team to a seven-point advantage. He seemed unstoppable, answering every defender and coverage the Knicks threw at him, and even got away from a pesky Mitchell Robinson on several occasions.
But it was the second half where things took a drastic turn for the worse. Embiid's performance took a nosedive, with him missing all three of his shots in the quarter, and it seemed like he just couldn't find any kind of groove. The Knicks, meanwhile, capitalized on the Sixers' struggles, outscoring them 30-13 to take a commanding lead.
The final stretch saw Embiid make some valiant effort, but ultimately, it was not enough to overcome the large deficit. What's concerning is how far Embiid fell from his previous form, and whether he can return to that level of play.
The loss also highlights the Sixers' need for roster changes. With two-way power forwards Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker struggling to keep up with the demands of their roles, it's clear that something needs to be done to get them more playing time. And with the team at 14 standard players, it's only a matter of time before some action is taken.
In fact, rumors are already swirling that the Sixers will make a move soon, whether it's converting Barlow or Walker to a standard contract or signing another player to a 10-day deal. One thing is for sure: the roster is going to look different on Monday.
Meanwhile, there were some lighter moments during the game, with a fan named Tommy hitting a half-court shot to win $10,000 in cryptocurrency and old friend Guerschon Yabusele's first visit to Philadelphia since departing for the Knicks.
For half, Embiid, the team's star center, had everyone's attention, racking up 28 points in the first quarter alone and leading his team to a seven-point advantage. He seemed unstoppable, answering every defender and coverage the Knicks threw at him, and even got away from a pesky Mitchell Robinson on several occasions.
But it was the second half where things took a drastic turn for the worse. Embiid's performance took a nosedive, with him missing all three of his shots in the quarter, and it seemed like he just couldn't find any kind of groove. The Knicks, meanwhile, capitalized on the Sixers' struggles, outscoring them 30-13 to take a commanding lead.
The final stretch saw Embiid make some valiant effort, but ultimately, it was not enough to overcome the large deficit. What's concerning is how far Embiid fell from his previous form, and whether he can return to that level of play.
The loss also highlights the Sixers' need for roster changes. With two-way power forwards Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker struggling to keep up with the demands of their roles, it's clear that something needs to be done to get them more playing time. And with the team at 14 standard players, it's only a matter of time before some action is taken.
In fact, rumors are already swirling that the Sixers will make a move soon, whether it's converting Barlow or Walker to a standard contract or signing another player to a 10-day deal. One thing is for sure: the roster is going to look different on Monday.
Meanwhile, there were some lighter moments during the game, with a fan named Tommy hitting a half-court shot to win $10,000 in cryptocurrency and old friend Guerschon Yabusele's first visit to Philadelphia since departing for the Knicks.
. We can't keep relying on Embiid to single-handedly carry the team, when are we gonna build a strong supporting cast? It's like the team's playing with one arm tied behind their back. And what's up with Barlow and Walker, they're not getting enough minutes. It's time for some savvy roster moves, maybe we need some fresh faces to shake things up 
. The sixers are starting to look like the 76ers of old, you know, "Trust the Process"... said no one ever 
. One quarter he's unstoppable, and the next half, he's missing easy shots like they're going out of style 
. And what's up with Barlow and Walker? I get that injuries happen, but it's been months now and nothing seems to be working out. Maybe a change of scenery or a fresh role would do them some good?
They're having an amazing season so far, and they just got Joel Embiid right where he wants him - on the receiving end 
. But seriously, it's clear that the Sixers need to step up their game if they wanna compete with these guys.
, right? Like Tommy and his half-court shot 
... that was insane! And Yabusele's return is always a treat. Maybe this loss will be just what the Sixers need to shake things up and make some moves 
.
? It's like, he was unstoppable at first, but then just disappears 
! And what's with Dominick Barlow and Jabari Walker getting zero playing time? They're paying them, right? I mean, I'm no expert, but it seems fishy to me 
... is there something going on behind the scenes that we don't know about? Maybe they're trying to get rid of someone or something 
. And what's with all these roster changes, anyway? It's like they're trying to distract us from something 
. Can't have our star player falling apart like that, especially not now when we're trying to make a playoff push. I'm all for making some moves this offseason, whoever is listening Philly front office 
those two power forwards ain't doing it no more 
and with the 14 players on the roster, it's only a matter of time before they make some moves 
. He was absolutely unstoppable in the first quarter but then just dropped off a cliff in the second half. I mean, what happened? It looked like he lost his rhythm and couldn't get anything going. And that's not the first time this season we've seen him struggle with consistency.
!
. It's clear that he needs a shake-up to get back on track - I'm talking bigger changes than just playing time for Barlow and Walker 
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the sixers need to figure out what's going on with barlow and walker, they can't be getting held back like that. and now there are rumors of them making a move 
I'm all for roster changes, though. Maybe some fresh blood would do the team some good... 
i mean i feel bad 4 embiid he had that amazng 1st qtr but then just went off the rails 2nd half. what's up w/ dominick & jabari tho? cant they even keep up w/ their own roles 
$10k in crypto is a nice lil bonus 4 u, tommy 
And another thing, why do I always end up seeing so many ads for fantasy football leagues on this site? It's like, I get it, people like to play around with their fantasy teams, but can't we just have a section dedicated to actual sports news without all the distractions? 
. The guy was on fire in the 1st half, but then just kinda... froze 
. I mean, it's easy to see why the Knicks were able to capitalize on that - he wasn't doing much of anything in the second half. It's still early days for these young guys trying out at 2-way power forward though... they gotta get some minutes or else things are gonna get ugly 
We need to see some real change on Monday, whether that means cutting ties with underperforming players or bringing in fresh blood 
