By: Kylan Watson

After falling to the Detroit Pistons after an embarrassing first-half effort, the Philadelphia 76ers faced the Milwaukee Bucks this afternoon. Philly had an impressive showing in the first half, but once again their defensive effort and inability to make shots in the second half cost them another game. Thanks to Damian Lillard and a scoring explosion from their second unit Milwaukee was able to beat Philly 137-125.

The Sixers found their offensive rhythm early in this game. Both Tyrese Maxey (39 points) and Joel Embiid (27 points) imposed their will in this game. They combined for 66 of Philly’s 125 points and Milwaukee really had no answers for this duo. Embiid was able to get whatever he wanted from the field and get his defenders in foul trouble. He frustrated Milwaukee’s players throughout this game and there was nothing they could do about it. Thanks to an abysmal start to this season Philly will need more nights like this from Maxey and Embiid and they will need some help from their teammates. That was the difference in this game.

Embiid and Maxey did not get the necessary help that they needed to take this game from Milwaukee. It remained a close game thanks to their scoring output, but when they both sat down it came apart for the Sixers. They just did not get enough scoring from anybody else to get a much-needed victory and that has to change very quickly. Nick Nurse must start drawing up plays to get Paul George more involved early and often throughout a contest.

A third scorer is what was missing from this game for the Sixers and that is what George was brought in to be, the consistent shot maker that Philly has been missing. He must play more aggressively and selfishly especially when he is the only star player on the court when both Maxey and Embiid are resting. George just got back from a jammed finger injury, and he is still learning to play with the cast, but he must attack the basket and create shots for himself. Once he finally gets going and becomes the key cog on both sides of the ball that he was brought in to be. Philly will finally be able to get some momentum and shoot up the standings in the loaded Eastern Conference.

The Bucks took full advantage of the Sixers’ mistakes on defense, there were multiple times during this game that Damian Lillard (43 points) was able to blow by his initial defender and either get to the free throw line, make a lay-up, or create a high-percentage shot for a teammates’. They cashed in on those high percentage opportunities he created for them. In addition, Milwaukee’s second unit scored 30 plus points in this game and continue to add to the Bucks significant lead throughout this game.

For the second straight game Philly’s defensive effort left a lot to be desired and they once again got outrebounded. The Sixers cannot continue to give up 16 plus offensive rebounds a night and expect to win games. Communicating on the defensive end and gang rebounding should help them keep the rebounding battle competitive.

Now the Sixers will have a few days off to prepare to face the new-look Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night. The Raptors are another young athletic team that the Sixers cannot afford to give multiple looks at the basket to. Especially now that they have added Brandon Ingraham to the mix post trade deadline. The Sixers will need to make sure that they are forcing the Raptors to take contested shots and limit them to one possession. In addition, Philly will need to limit their turnovers, and cash in on the wide-open high-percentage shooting opportunities created off their ball movement. Which they did not do enough of against the Bucks and the Pistons.

Implementing this into their game plan for Tuesday night should put them in great position to win their 21^st game of the season and start to build some positive momentum heading into next week’s All-Star break.