Simmons says team is ‘too soft’
PHILADELPHIA >> Joel Embiid, who had a slight sprain of his right ankle, didn’t play.
But that wasn’t the reason, Ben Simmons said, why the Sixers lost to the Atlanta Hawks, 123-121, Friday.
J.J. Redick played despite a pregame back issue, the one that had left him unavailable in the last two games. But that wasn’t the reason. Jimmy Butler missed two late free throws (one seemingly deliberately), but that wasn’t the reason.
Depth wasn’t the reason. Shooting wasn’t the reason. The game plan wasn’t the reason.
So … what was the reason? “I think we were too soft,” Simmons said.
And that’s where the Sixers are, two games into the second half of their season, both losses to struggling teams, the Wizards Wednesday and the Hawks, who improved Friday to 13-29. They are, at least according to one of their marquee stars, too timid, too often.
“I just don’t think we’re physical enough,” Simmons said. “Defensively, I don’t think we take it personally enough when guys score on us. It should be a pride thing. When somebody scores, it should be a pride thing every time. And I think that comes with age. We have a lot of young guys. But at the same time, we have to expect more from each other to get better and get to the next level. Because once playoff time comes, it goes to another level.”
Against Washington, the Sixers allowed 123 points, with veteran Bradley Beal going for 26. They allowed another buck-23 Friday and were tormented by rookie Kevin Huerter, who bagged 29.
“We know we have to be more physical,” Simmons said. “And we know we have to take it as a challenge. You don’t want to come out on the floor and have guys go at you every game. You want to make that a pride thing. You want to come out and get stops and lock down on your man.
“And that’s everybody. Including me.”
••• Redick, who had missed the previous two games, was listed as a game-time decision with a continuing back issue. Cleared to play, he worked
35:27, but shot just 7-for-21 and 4-for-14 from the arc.
Brown was not sure if the boxscore line and the back soreness were related.
“I don’t know,” he said. “I don’t know. If you look at his percentage, he wasn’t himself. But I thought his looks were good. I thought he had a bounce. I didn’t feel like he looked sore. Perhaps some time off affected that. I don’t know. But it was good to have him back.
“We needed it all. We just didn’t get enough.”
••• Down by two, with the ball, with 9.5 seconds left, the Sixers predictably went to Jimmy Butler, who had scored 30 points.
Butler drove, was fouled by former Sixer Justin Anderson, and with 2.4 seconds left had a chance to force a tie from the line. But he missed the first shot, missed the second, and lost when Wilson Chandler was unable to convert the offensive rebound.
So … it was the play, and the situation, Brown wanted.
“It is,” Brown said. “It’s the thing we’ve done in the past, where we have beaten Brooklyn and when we were in Charlotte. It’s just giving him space. You have to put the right people around him. But, yes, we got what we wanted and we just weren’t able to get the two free throws out of it.”
•••
Some recent reports indicated that Markelle Fultz, who is in California recovering from thoracic outlet syndrome, was supposed to have a medical update this week.
“The club, through Elton Brand, will make a statement on Markelle’s next move and the path for Markelle soon,” Brown said. “I don’t know when that is. That will come from Elton and not me. But he continues to work with physical therapy and continues to do some things in California.
“And we all expect to see him, I think, fairly soon.”
Brown clarified that he meant that he would see Fultz back around the team, not necessarily in action.
••• Zhaire Smith, who is recovering from a broken foot, has been spotted with the Sixers. But the rookie is not close to a return.
Brown: “Zhaire continues to get shots and do individual work. As far as practicing with us, that has not happened.”
Continuing to recover from foot surgery, Justin Patton may be able to resume practicing with the Sixers at some point in February, Brown reported.
••• Embiid tweaked his ankle Wednesday in Washington. Friday, he had to leave a team walk-through for additional attention, but did warm up before the game before being scratched.
His absence showed in one place in particular.
“Our defense,” Butler said. “A lot of the times he can come in and save us and block a shot or alter a shot. I think we rely on help just a little bit too much. No one person, in particular, I just think everybody as a whole has got to man up and learn to guard your guy. If you can stay in front of the ball, you don’t have to worry about causing as much help, drawing as much help. Contest the shot, get the rebound, take off.”