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After a huge win over the Boston Celtics last Monday, the Philadelphia 76ers traveled home on Thursday for their final home game of the year. They found themselves up against the Atlanta Hawks who were without a plethora of their key players. Similar to most of their recent games, the Sixers found themselves in a neck-and-neck matchup down the stretch.
They had a chance to win the game in the final seconds, but Joel Embiid's shot did not fall. In the end, the depleted Hawks managed to steal a 98-96 victory.
Here are some observations on the Sixers after their tough loss against the Hawks.
3. Three-point shooting woes continue
It is no secret the Sixers have struggled to shoot the ball well from beyond the arc recently. The inability to get a shot to fall from deep once again played a factor in their downfall. They shot just 22.2 percent from downtown, connecting on six of their 27 attempts.
Embiid and Seth Curry were the only Sixers to have it going from deep, but they only combined for four attempts. No matter what the circumstances are, just two three-point attempts are unacceptable from a player like Curry. Some not-so-great standouts included Tobias Harris (0-6), Furkan Korkmaz (0-3), Matisse Thybulle (0-3), and Isaiah Joe (0-3).
When the Sixers aren't scoring from deep, it makes life much harder on Embiid. Defenses can shrink the floor and throw more bodies at him before he can impose his will around the rim. Because of their poor shooting, the Hawks were able to drop into a zone defense and cut off multiple lanes.
This team-wide shooting slump is a growing concern with each passing game. If the Sixers want to get back on track, step one is finding a way to be more effective from beyond the arc.
2. Tyrese Maxey shines in return
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The Sixers got some much-needed reinforcements against the Hawks as Tyrese Maxey made his return after missing time with a hip injury. To little surprise, the 21-year-old did not miss a beat. Maxey ended the night as the team's second-leading scorer with 17 points in 33 minutes of action off the bench.
There is no denying how crucial of a piece Maxey is for the Sixers, especially without a certain disgruntled guard. When he is in the lineup, it gives the offense a different element. Few players can match his speed and quickness, not to mention the scoring punch he provides.
Thursday was a more than perfect return for the young guard. Doc Rivers said postgame he only wanted to play Maxey for 15 minutes, but after seeing how he looked on the floor, he opted to give him more run. Based on this showing, it appears Maxey needs little to no time before looking like the player we are accustomed to seeing.
1. Another missed opportunity
To be blunt, this is not a game the Sixers should have dropped. When the season is over and they are looking at the standings, the loss against the Hawks might be something they wish they could take back. Between a two-day rest, being on their home floor, and being the healthier team, the Sixers had everything going for them. But alas, they fell short.
During a long season, there is always the occasional slip-up, but a loss like this is nearly inexcusable. The Hawks were without a majority of their normal rotation, including superstar Trae Young. The Sixers sleepwalked into the game and paid the price for it.
Full roster or not, there is still NBA-level talent on the floor every single night. Playing down to depleted opponents has been a bad habit for the Sixers, and one they need to kick fast.
