The Sixers just keep chugging along despite missing several key players at various points (chiefly Joel Embiid's extended absence). In a packed week (four games in two back-to-backs), they came out on top three times, taking down the New York Knicks one each at home and at the Garden, and blasting the Sacramento Kings at home sans Ben Simmons.

They did drop a tough one to the Milwaukee Bucks, but even that can be somewhat excused considering it was the Sixers' fifth game in seven nights and took overtime.

All the victory has them at 30-13, still in first place in the East. But unfortunately, the Brooklyn Nets (29-14) and aforementioned Bucks (28-14) keep winning in their own right. It's gonna be a dogfight over the final 30ish games for all parties involved.

But how did they look in the games?

Tuesday, 3/16/21: Won v. New York Knicks 99-96

Sunday, 3/21/21: Won at New York Knicks 101-100 (OT)

--The outcome and process of these games was so similar, I had to lump them together--virtually the only difference was the venue. Even with post-up magician Joel Embiid, the Sixers are generally a team that likes to get out and move (100.7 pace, seventh fastest in the league), but the Knicks couldn't be slower (95.9, dead last by a wide margin). And the latter certainly had it their way in both games (95.1 on Tuesday, a snooze-inducing 90.8 on Sunday). They also showed off their third-ranked defensive prowess, holding the Sixers to offensive rating of 104.1 and 100.7, well below its normal 113.0. The Tom Thibodeau effect is very real on this team.

--The Sixers won the battle of the benches in both of these games (30-29 in game one, 42-28 in game two), which I always love to see. Their productivity came from different sources, too. In the first matchup, Dwight Howard put up a double-double with 11 points and 12 boards, and Furkan Korkmaz led second-unit Sixers with 12 points. Matisse Thybulle also continued his defensive reign of terror with a steal and three blocks in just 17 minutes. On Sunday, it was Shake Milton's turn to shine with 21 points and a team-best +5 point-differential in 29 minutes, and Howard again owned the glass with 13 more rebounds. Guys are stepping up more and more as the season is gets deeper, which is what happens with the best teams.

--The Sixers managed a 24.4% free throw rate across these two games and verged 21.5 attempts, well below their season averages of 29.4% and 25.7. I've been paying very close attention to the way this team gets to the line without Joel Embiid and his 9.8 makes on 11.4 freebies a night. After his 63.4% free throw rate, the next most prolific foul-drawers among rotation regulars are Dwight Howard (61.6%) and Ben Simmons (45.1%), neither of whom exactly threaten opposing teams when at the charity stripe. Shake Milton is the only other regular with an above average free throw attempt rate (28.6%, the league is at 24.8%). For an offense that still wants for some secondary shot creation, not being able to get easy points is a blow. Although shoutout to Tobias Harris for going 13-for-15 between these two games.

--Speaking of Harris, he came up large in both contests. In game one, he led all scorers with 30 points and got up 20 field goal attempts. That's the type of volume and efficiency the Sixers need from him without Embiid. He wasn't nearly as sharp in the second round (20 points on 5-for-18 shooting), but 11 of those 15 free throw attempts came in that game. He missed a pair of free throws (though the second looked purposeful) down the stretch or regulation, but fixed that by nailing two to ice the game, right after connecting on a big time 3. Now was he really fouled on that final possession? Sureee....

--Ben Simmons scored 16 points in both of these contests, but it took him 31 shot attempts. One, that lack of efficiency is disappointing. Circling back from my earlier point, he only took three free throws between both games, and missed them all. Two, that's just not enough field goal attempts. Yes, I mentioned the slow pace earlier, and yes, I also eluded to Harris needing to be the alpha scorer in Embiid's stead, but there is a sizable void that should be filled beside him, and he just needs to be more selfish anyway. In the first game Seth Curry was able to fill the second scorer hole (20 points on 14 shots, 4-for-7 from deep) and Milton took that mantle the next game, but Simmons can do more.

--Alec Burks put up 19 and 20 in these games and showcased all sorts of shot making skill. He was banged up a bit last year, but he had some nice moments for the Sixers. This year is more of the same--he's averaging 12.3 points on 41.3/39.6/84.7 as a spark off the pine. If they weren't dead set on making the postseason this year, the Knicks could get something of legitimate value from a contender at the deadline for him. While on the subject of former Sixers now with the Knicks, the same goes for Nerlens Noel--dude had 18 rebounds, 3 steals and 5 blocks in 61 combined minutes, and on the year he's collecting 1.0 steal and 2.0 blocks in just 22.5 minutes. His offensive game never came around, but man is he such an active and disruptive defensive force.

--Immanuel Quickley can play, man. He wasn't terribly efficient against the Sixers (23 points on 23 shots in two games, 3-for-11 from downtown), but his body of work on the whole year remains impressive. Drafted just four picks after the Sixers took his Wildcat teammate Tyrese Maxey, the 6'3" guard has the one thing that is holding Maxey back from fully pinning down a spot in Doc's rotation--a 3-point cannon. Quickley is 37.1 on 5.1 attempts per game, while Maxey is struggling to a 28.1% clip on 1.5 attempts. If Maxey can get that up around league average, watch out.

Wednesday, 3/17/21: Lost v. Milwaukee Bucks 109-105 (OT)

--This one stings. Up by as many as 19, including 11 early in the final frame. You can't lose that game, especially against one of your chief rivals for conference supremacy. This game counted twice--the Sixers would be up on Milwaukee by 3.5 games instead of 1.5 had they held on. You force 22 turnovers and hold your foe to 23.1% from deep, you expect to win that game. But no dice.

--Free throws are worth mentioning again--or the lack thereof. The Sixers took 8 in this one. No bueno. They did rack up 109 field goal attempts versus the Bucks' 101 to offset that, but it didn't much matter since they only shot 39.4%. The Bucks were only marginally better at 40.6%, but they tripled the Sixers in free throw attempts with 24.

--This was all about Bucks starters. After riding a deep roster to great success the previous two seasons, they are much thinner this year. The opening five was responsible for 100 of their 109 points. GIannis Antetokounmpo went for 32 and 15, Villanova product Donte DiVincenzo had 20 and 8 and hit four triples. Brook Lopez finished a team best +11. Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton provided their usual two-way impacts. They have a hell of an opening lineup.

--Conversely, the Sixers can thank their bench yet again. Howard went for 13 and 15, Milton had 15 more points and was a game-high +17. Meanwhile, every starter finished with a negative point-differential except Tony Bradley, who only played 17 minutes. On the other hand, if the Sixers were able to hang this tough without Embiid against a great team, that's promising for when the MVP-candidate returns.

--Ben Simmons had 7 turnovers, the first of two games this week he hit that number, and third time in ten games. In that stretch, he is coughing the rock up 4.0 times per game. For a time, it appeared he was turning the corner in that regard, but he's regressed again. It'd be one thing if his playmaking numbers were up, but he's actually averaging only 6.7 assists in that span, well below his season average. That needs to change.

Saturday, 3/20/21: Won v. Sacramento Kings 129-105

--A 24-point, wire-to-wire victory without three-fifths of the starting lineup? Who saw that coming, even if it came against the lowly Kings? The Sixers pushed the lead to as many as 36 points, and after getting ahead 27-12 with 5:29 to go in the first, they maintained at least a 15-point advantage the rest of the way. That is dominance.

--Tony Bradley and Dwight Howard manning the middle together: 24 points on 15 shots and 21 rebounds. The tandem continues to efficiently produce and, most importantly, keeps things simple. Their efforts helped the Sixers dominate on the boards (52-33), win the paint (52-48), and keep plays alive (won second chance 13-5). They play active interior defense, clean the glass, finish plays around the rim, and just do dirty work. That's all that they need to worry about.

--29 free throw attempts this time. Now that's more like it. Shake Milton got to the stripe 11 times himself and buried nine. He had a tremendous game overall with 28 points on 17 shots. He was one-upped by Harris, who went for 29 on 18 shots. The latter also stuffed the stat sheet with 11 boards and 8 assists. Danny Green had himself a night, too, with 18 points a three steals. Tons of great offensive performances in this one. That'll happen when you shoot 55.8/47.8/75.9 as a team for a 130.6 offensive rating.

--About that ridiculous offensive performance...the Kings are used to giving them up. Their defense is...not...flattering. For the season, they have a 118.7 defensive rating, which is, well, last. Actually, for any season they would be last, since that is the worst defensive rating in NBA history. You gotta feel for Kings fans, man. Will their suffering ever end?

--Nemanja Bjelica had a chance to showcase his game a bit for the Sixers. Oh, sorry if I'm getting ahead of myself--it just feels like such a perfect fit, especially with P.J. Tucker off the board. Anyway, he was okay. 6 points in 11 minutes, and he bricked on his only 3-point attempt. He would upgrade Mike Scott's minutes quite a bit, I think, and, at 6'10", even possibly give the Sixers another option at the 5 in smaller or spacier lineups. If he doesn't cost much, make it happen.

What's Next?

Hit the road, Jack.

The Sixers kicked off a six-game road trip with Sunday's win at New York, and a stretch of 10 of 12 overall away from Philly. They'll spend all of this week in California, taking on the Golden State Warriors (22-21) on Tuesday night before double-dipping in Los Angeles against the Lakers (28-15) on Thursday and the Clippers (28-16) on Saturday. All three games will be at 10 p.m.

The Sixers haven't seen the Warriors this season, but suffice it to say they are not the same threat they once were. After a miserable season last year, they're significantly better with a healthy Stephen Curry (29.0 PPG), but they will be without the 2-time MVP after he banged up his tailbone. Andrew Wiggins and Kelly Oubre figure to carry the scoring burden in Curry's absence--not exactly Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant from years past.

The Lakers will similarly be without their top-end talent when the Sixers visit. Anthony Davis hasn't played since February 14 because of a calf strain and is still weeks away, and LeBron James suffered a high ankle sprain last week that will keep him out for at least a month. It's a shame. It would have been nice to see how a full-strength Lakers squad looked to avenge their thrilling 107-106 loss in Philly back in late January. At the same time--pounce on these teams while they're down, you know?

The Clippers on the other hand don't appear to have any major injuries to stars (though Patrick Beverly and Serge Ibaka have both missed several games in a row due to knee troubles), but they've been oddly underwhelming of late. Despite an objectively excellent season-long record and a a top-4 standing in the West, since February 1, they're barely above .500 (12-11). Still, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard are combining for over 48 points a night, and the roster remains deep and talented. It'll be a tough matchup.