A Loss That Felt Inevitable
The Sixers fell 127–117 to the Heat, and honestly, it felt like one of those losses you could sense early. Not a meltdown, not a heartbreaking finish, just a game where the vibe never really shifted in our direction. I wasn’t even as upset as I usually am after certain losses. It just looked like one of those nights where the matchup problems piled up and never eased.
Maxey’s “Quiet” 27 and the Embiid Thought
Tyrese Maxey gave us what now counts as a “quiet” 27-point performance. Wild that this is the new normal for him. I think that if this exact roster played this exact game two or three years ago, but with prime Embiid instead of Maxey, the Sixers probably win. Not a knock on Maxey, but prime Joel was a completely different type of advantage, especially on defense. And on offense, he had those stretches where, even when the team wasn’t flowing, he could generate the “easy points” that Maxey still doesn’t always find on rough nights. Different players, different strengths, but the contrast was noticeable. But Embiid gets injured…
McCain’s Offense Rising, Defense Slipping
Jared McCain continues trending upward on offense. The game is slowing down for him, he’s finding rhythm, and even the knee brace seems less of an issue. But defensively? There were some rough moments. Last year he wasn’t this much of a target. Tonight he got driven past way too freely, Jaquez Jr., Larson, whoever, they attacked him without resistance. It was frustrating and honestly a little worrying. Hopefully he grows like Maxey did defensively, because Maxey’s worst wasn’t as shaky as what we’re seeing now. Still early, but definitely something to track.
Watford’s Big Energy and the Consistency Question
Watford was a bright spot. Really good all-around game, great in transition, smart reads in the half-court, just solid feel. But the question with him is always consistency. He leaves you wanting this version every night. If he can tighten up his floater, that becomes a real weapon since the three-point shot doesn’t look like it’s stabilizing anytime soon. He’s a valuable player, he just needs one more reliable scoring tool to stick firmly in the rotation.
Their Rotation Looked More NBA-Ready
Even with Maxey being the best individual player on the floor, Miami just had the stronger group overall. Adebayo, Ware, Powell, Mitchell, Larson, all legit, steady rotation pieces. And Jaquez Jr. looked extremely composed and talented, able to create whenever he needed. They were simply the better team tonight. Hopefully next time we see them, Joel is back, KJ Huber is available, and Paul George isn’t at a weird 20-minute restriction.
Looking Ahead
Next up: the Magic. We beat them last time without Joel, so there’s some optimism, even if it’s a Cup game and we’re basically out of the Cup. After that, the Nets. Someone called it a “scheduled win” is it?
Go Sixers!