3 observations after McCain scores 20, young Sixers lose by a landslide in preseason initially appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
Three down, three to go.
The Sixers hit the midway level of their preseason schedule Saturday evening with a 139-89 loss to the Celtics at TD Backyard, dropping to 1-2 in exhibition play.
Jared McCain was the Sixers’ prime producer, recording 20 factors on 9-for-21 capturing, three assists, three rebounds and three steals.
The Sixers will finish their three-game street journey Monday by dealing with the Hawks in Atlanta. Listed here are observations on their blowout defeat in Boston:
Celtics with huge edge over youthful Sixers
Sixers head coach Nick Nurse had an affordable, conservative method on the second evening of a preseason back-to-back, giving most of his veteran gamers the sport off.
That meant Guerschon Yabusele began at middle in opposition to his former workforce and opened the evening subsequent to Jeff Dowtin Jr., McCain, Ricky Council IV and KJ Martin.
The matchup wasn’t near even. Celtics middle Luke Kornet racked up 11 factors within the first six minutes and Boston took a 40-18 lead on a Derrick White three-pointer simply earlier than the first-quarter buzzer. The Celtics had big benefits nearly in all places you regarded — measurement, expertise, All-Star expertise. In below 16 minutes, Boston’s lead was 26 factors.
It didn’t assist that the Sixers missed a number of wide-open jumpers and started 0 for 9 from three-point vary as a workforce. Two-way contract player Lester Quinones lastly broke the ice late within the first quarter.
McCain’s recreation contained in the arc
McCain snagged a powerful defensive rebound within the first quarter after which sprinted forward in quest of a coast-to-coast layup. Jaylen Brown’s chase-down block try compelled him to overlook.
The 20-year-old shot simply 2 for 8 from the ground within the first interval, although each of his makes have been spectacular. He transformed a artful layup round Kornet and made a difficult left-handed scoop shot.
Particularly on a workforce with three All-Stars in Tyrese Maxey, Paul George and Joel Embiid, McCain could very properly do a lot of his scoring behind the three-point line early in his NBA profession. Nonetheless, it seems price persevering with to work at discovering slivers of house on his drives and honing his recreation round 6 to 12 ft from the rim.
As a 6-foot-3 rookie, he’s determining the steadiness between being an attacking, inventive participant contained in the arc and adapting to the challenges of NBA measurement and athleticism. This preseason, he hasn’t been brief on self-belief; McCain went proper at an All-Defensive guard in White and scored an and-one layup on him. He narrowly missed an enormous dunk within the fourth quarter, too.
McCain assisted Yabusele on back-to-back threes within the second quarter. He’s proven an innate really feel for utilizing his physique within the pick-and-roll and hitting teammates in rhythm on pops and rolls.
The Duke product’s preseason three-point numbers dipped a bit with a 1-for-8 outing. Via three exhibition video games, he is 7 for 20 from lengthy distance.
Nothing doing but for Martin past the arc
Martin’s athletic talents popped each time he had the possibility to go downhill.
He scored the Sixers’ first factors out of a pick-and-roll with Dowtin. Later, he slammed residence a fast-break lob from Council.
Martin performed 28 minutes and posted 9 factors on 4-for-7 capturing, 4 rebounds and two assists. He solely tried one three-point shot Saturday evening, lacking a first-quarter jumper from the best nook.
If he may drain a couple of threes earlier than the preseason ends, Martin’s case for rotation minutes would presumably enhance. Whereas the Sixers need everybody to play to their strengths, Nurse has spoken positively about Martin’s summer season work with a capturing coach. Any in-game success through the preseason could be vital.
