It has to be said--the Sixers are playing well without Joel Embiid. They have not played the toughest schedule of late, and obviously the alternative is still very much preferred, but it is nonetheless good to see them racking up the dubs. So it went this past week, with a nice 2-1 California vacation. The Sixers took care of business against banged-up Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers teams before predictably dropping a tough matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Unfortunately, the heat remains on at the top of the Eastern Conference. 32-14 is enough to keep them locked in the top spot, but the Brooklyn Nets (31-15) and Milwaukee Bucks (29-16) just refuse to run into any sort of losing streak. But no matter. The Sixers as it stands control their own destiny, and that will be the case until it isn't anymore.

For now, we'll enjoy the ride, and take a look back at the most recent events...

Tuesday, 3/23/21: Won at Golden State Warriors 108-98

--35 free throw attempts! The first of two games this week with 30+! For the week, the Sixers averaged 29.7 trips to the charity stripes. This is very good! Now granted, there was some hacking involved (Ben Simmons, who has struggled at the line recently--more on that later--took 14 in this one), but still, it looks good in the box score. I've spoken at length about how important Embiid is for that very reason, so seeing the team put up numbers like this without him is refreshing.

--Still, this wasn't the Sixers' best effort offensively. They didn't cough up the ball much (13 turnovers), but that's because they didn't really try to move it much (15 assists). 108 points on 45.3/29.2/65.7...meh. The Warriors are actually solid on D (110.6 defensive rating, ninth overall), but things just felt a bit flat. On the plus side, the entire starting lineup reached double figures in scoring, so there's that.

--Talk about saving your best for last. In his final game in a Sixers uniform, Tony Bradley put up 18 points on a perfect 8-for-8 from the floor, inhaled 11 boards, and had two blocks and steals apiece. I think George Hill is a terrific get for the Sixers, I really do, and when Embiid does come back (looking good on that front!), Bradley would have gone back to being a bit role player. But he had really played well in the superstar center's stead--in his final eight games (7 starts), he put up 7.8 points on 80.6% shooting (seriously) and 6.8 rebounds in 20.0 minutes. He's obviously got some ability, and he only recently turned 23. It's easy to see upside as a quality backup, and maybe even something more. Oh, it was also the final game for Terrance Ferguson and Vincent Poirier as Sixers. Fittingly, neither saw the court.

--In addition to Bradley, both Tobias Harris and Dwight Howard snagged double-digit rebounds (13 and 11, respectively), and Simmons hauled in 8 of his own. A really balanced effort on the glass en route to 51 boards as a team, crushing the Dubs' 38. Kelly Oubre led the Warriors with 10 rebounds, which...okay. Unsurprisingly, points in the paint (58-48) and second chance points (21-8) landed in favor of Philly too.

--Not to end this segment on a down note, but...you were up 24 near the end of the first quarter...and in the third quarter you were down by 6. After winning the opening frame 35-17, you lose the second and third 68-45. I get taking your foot off the gas a bit, but there was a real chance of losing this game. That can't happen against a mediocre Warriors team playing WITHOUT Stephen Curry. A nice late run to close things out, sure. But that shouldn't have been necessary. Harris and Simmons both had to play 35+ minutes when it looked like they wouldn't even need to eclipse 25.

Thursday, 3/25/21: Won at Los Angeles Lakers 109-101

--Danny Green got his championship ring, the third of his career. Good for him, too. Ridding themselves of Al Horford and scooping up a battle-tested wing in the process looks better with every passing game as Green has just gotten stronger as the season has worn on. The 33-year-old has lost a step or two defensively, but he remains extremely gritty and intelligent, and still posts above average block and steal figures (2.6% and 2.2%, above his career averages of 2.4% and 2.0%). And then there's the shooting--Green is up to 40.6% from downtown on the season on 6.4 attempts per game. Considering he came into the season a lifetime 40.0% sniper, this shouldn't be all that surprising. But he's been even better than that--after initially struggling (33.3% through his first 11 games), he has been literal fire (42.5%). Then there's the fact that he is the only Sixer to have started every game. Oh, and by the way--28 points, 8 triples, one steal and two blocks in this one. I know that I've praised Green more than a few times in this space, but he's just played extremely well, guys.

--The Lakers are a bit different without Anthony Davis and LeBron James, to say the least. The ball movement is...unspectacular (22 assists to 20 turnovers), and the looks on offense aren't as clean (43.6/34.6/72.7 team slash). But what do you expect when you remove two Hall of Famers? Their best player in Davis and James' absence is likely one of Montrezl Harrell, Kyle Kuzma, or Dennis Schroder (naturally, their three leading scorers in this contest). That group is more likely to contend for a top draft pick than a top playoff seed.

--45 3-point attempts! 17 makes! I likeeee that. Five different Sixers launched 5+ threes. I've decried this team for the bulk of the season for their lack of volume from downtown. As of this writing, they attempt the third fewest total from deep (29.3), second fewest per-100 possessions (28.8), and three make up the fifth smallest share of their shots (33.5%). This is despite making a respectable 37.1% of their tries (13th in the league). I touched on Green above, but Seth Curry (43.0% on 4.6 attempts) definitely needs to shoot more, and Harris (40.9% on 3.8 attempts) might benefit from an extra triple every now and again. Bottom line is the offense could stand to be a bit more modernized and efficient--see this game's 59.4 effective field goal percentage.

--Paul Reed is back babyyyy. After a monstrous season in the G-League--dude took home MVP!--he is back up with the big club for the stretch run. Actually, he's been back for a couple of weeks now, I'm just late to the party. Anyway, none of his stats jump off the page--4 points, 3 boards and a steal in a tick under nine minutes here--this kid is wildly intriguing to me. Along with Isaiah Joe, who didn't see the floor here, it'll be interesting to see what the rookies can do in some game action, even if it's largely in garbage time.

--Matisse Thybulle...2 points on 1-for-6 shooting in 22 minutes. He was also a game-high +12, grabbed 7 rebounds, collected four more steals, and was generally a force of nature in all the little things. I, like many Sixers fans, have such a love-hate relationship with the 24-year-old. The offense is a distinct negative, and the perimeter defense is genuinely elite. They don't need much scoring from him as it stands with guys like Shake Milton, a rejuvenated Furkan Korkmaz, hopefully Tyrese Maxey, and others in the fold, but this guy has starting caliber upside if he ever approaches weak offensive impact as opposed to...none whatsoever.

Saturday, 3/27/21: Lost at Los Angeles Clippers 122-112

--Paul George and Kawhi Leonard both rank among the best two-way wings in modern NBA history, so it should come as no surprise that they combined for 52 points 35 shot attempts, 13 rebounds, 13 assists, six steals and a block. But who the hell does Terance Mann think he is? The former 2019 second-round pick snapped for a season-high 23 points on just 12 shots. If Simmons really thinks he's got a case for DPoY, that type of showing doesn't happen. Six turnovers to just two assists isn't a good look, either. And while I'm railing on him, how disappointing is his regression from the free throw line? A 3-for-5 showing in this one has him at 54.2% over his last 10 games. The previous 10? 71.2%.

--Nottt the best week for Howard off the pine...he was ejected in this one--for the second straight game. No reason for me to get into specifics, but even when he was on the court, he wasn't effective. The Sixers lost his 39-plus minutes by 13, and he picked up 9 fouls in that span. Give the big man credit for embracing the role that has been asked of him this year. He isn't the perennial All-NBA franchise focal point he was in his prime. He is a rim-runner and lob threat, a glass cleaner, and a physical presence. Not to mention, apart from Green, he is the only Sixer not to miss a game--impressive for a 35-year-old with some recent injury issues. But truthfully, the team has gotten utterly blasted in his floor time this year (-14.1 relative net rating). One of the reasons I kind of hoped they might give LaMarcus Aldridge a call, but no luck there.

--Korkmaz here...scoreless in 12 minutes. Howard had 9--but all came on free throw attempts. Milton had 16, but was a -10. Overall, a lackluster showing from the second unit, wrapping up what was a subpar week honestly. Milton hit double figures in each game, but Howards nine was the closest to a double-digit bench performance otherwise. They did win the bench battle here 41-38, but a large part of that was in garbage time in the fourth quarter after the Clippers had extended their lead to 19 early on. In general, the bench has been very solid lately, but this week was a bit of a step back.

--The Sixers were actually very efficient from the floor here--50.6/38.5/72.7. But they only got up 77 field goal attempts, and they let the Clips shoot even better (52.9/42.3/77.8). At times, it felt kind of like a playoff game with the slower pace and isolation heavy offensive sets. Just made me miss seeing Embiid out there even more.

--Might as well give Harris a shout--a game-high 29 against his former team to go along with 7 rebounds and six assists. We'll just ignore the minus-15.

What's Next?

The Sixers will finish up their season-long six-game road trip with stops in Denver to face the Nuggets (28-18) on Tuesday night at 9 p.m., and Cleveland at 7 p.m. on Thursday to complete their season series with the Cavaliers (17-29). They'll then make their return to the Wells Fargo Center for a weekend back-to-back with the Minnesota Timberwolves (11-35) Saturday night at 8 p.m. and the Memphis Grizzlies (21-22) Sunday night at 7 p.m.

The Nuggets are in a dog fight for homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs, currently sitting 1.5 games back of the Lakers for the fourth seed out West. The Sixers lost their home game against the Nuggets earlier in the year when they were extremely shorthanded due to Covid-19 protocols (their starting five in that one was Isaiah Joe, Tyrese Maxey, Dakota Mathias, Green and Howard. Yeah.). MVP-candidate Nikola Jokic carved them up with 15 points and 12 assists, and finished one assist shy of a triple-double. The Sixers will likely have Simmons this time around, but not having Embiid again still makes this one a tall order.

The Cavaliers will be looking to complete a stunning season sweep of the Sixers. Like Denver, both of the previous victories came against a Philadelphia lineup missing Embiid. He of course will once more be out, but he wouldn't have much effect on a leaky perimeter that has allowed Collin Sexton to average 25.0 points against our boys. He would, however, help them not get outrebounded by 6.0 per game.

The Timberwolves currently hold the very worst record in the league. The Sixers obliterated them 118-94 in Minnesota back at the end of January, but don't expect any sort of revenge game effort from the Wolves--not with a top-3 protected first-rounder owed to the Warriors in July's draft. Karl Anthony-Towns is always a fun player to watch, though, and will likely get his usual 24 and 10 and then some with no Embiid to worry about. Likewise, 2020 no. 1 overall draft pick Anthony Edwards is really beginning to come into his own (23.8 points over his last 14) and is good for at least one highlight-reel slam per game these days.

While the Wolves are struggling mightily grooming their young talent, the Grizzlies are having no such problems. After a surprising and entertaining season a year ago, head coach Taylor Jenkins has his group once again flirting with a playoff spot. They're getting it done with a fierce defense (110.0 defensive rating, sixth in the league) that is opportunistic yet disciplined (second best in forcing turnovers at 14.4% but still only fouling 17.4% of the time, seventh lowest). Ja Morant is also a treat to watch, a hyperathletic and confident guard with the poise and patience of a veteran. He leads the Grizz in scoring and assists (19.3 and 7.5, respectively).