Regular Season Game 21
Wizards (11-9) at 76ers (11-8)
November 29, 2017 at 7:00PM Wells Fargo Center | Philadelphia, PA TV: NBCSW, NBATV Radio: 1500 AM
What to Watch: Ben Simmons
The 21-year-old Aussie has led his Sixer’s to an 11-8 start through the first 19 games of this season. Although that is not anywhere as impressive as Kyrie’s 18-4 Celtics, when you look back to this point last year, the Sixers were struggling to win games at 4-15. Quite a difference when the 6-10 rookie point guard is in the lineup.
Assuming Simmons plays, currently listed as questionable, the Wizards will have to depend on Otto Porter Jr. and Kelly Oubre Jr. to help stop the budding star from taking over the game. If either can disrupt Simmons’s rhythm and keep him from being a major factor in this one, the Wizards will have a much easier path towards picking up a victory in Philly.
Key Matchup:
Joel Embiid vs. Marcin Gortat
Embiid has had his way against opposing centers so far, this year. In 17 games this season Embiid is averaging a double-double with 22.8 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. Gortat on the other hand who is 10 years older (and wiser) than the Cameroonian native, has had a solid year thus far on both ends of the court.
However, despite all the flash and stardom Embiid has displayed in his young career, he could learn a thing or two from the Polish Machine on staying healthy. Since joining the Wizards in 2013, Marcin has only missed 18 regular season games out of possible 347 games as a Wizard. Since being drafted third overall in the 2014 NBA draft, “The Process” has only played in 48 career games, having missed 135 games out of 183 total possible games as a Sixer.
X-Factor:
Otto Porter Jr.
Porter has had a great start to this season and will be a major X-factor in this game against the 76ers. With John Wall out due to swelling in his left knee, the Wizards desperately need someone to step up and fill in that void on both ends of the floor. Not only will they need Otto’s offensive arsenal to be on full display but they are also going to need him to play one of his best defensive games, as he is matched up against Ben Simmons at times.
Fun Factor:
Bradley Beal, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Joel Embiid Have Something In Common
Beal, Oubre, and Embiid all spent time this summer training with NBA Strategic Skills Coach Drew Hanlen and because of those unseen hours, all three players are averaging career high in points this season.
Prediction:
The Wizard’s start off flat to begin the game, but find a way to get a tough victory on the road.