For Sixers, a sputtering start Posted on November 4th
Saturday night in Atlanta, the 76ers left Philips Arena with the disappointment of a 95-88 loss to the Hawks, during which the Sixers held a 23-point lead.
It hasn’t been the imagined start for these Sixers, who entered the season with high expectations after a playoff appearance last season and several key off-season additions, including power forward Elton Brand.
But tonight, the Sixers (1-2) will have the opportunity to even their record against the struggling Sacramento Kings (0-3), whom opponents have outscored by an average of 15.67 points per game.
“In this league, you can’t worry about yesterday,” said Sixers reserve guard Willie Green, who is averaging 9.3 points per game. “That game is gone. Every game in this league is a big game.”
The Kings have lost to the Timberwolves (98-96), the Heat (103-77), and the Magic (121-103).
Through three games, the Kings’ leading scorer has been former Sixer John Salmons (19.0 points per game). Salmons graduated from Plymouth Whitemarsh in 1997 before attending the University of Miami.
The first four seasons of his NBA career, Salmons played for the Sixers. His most successful season, 2005-06, he averaged 7.5 points per game.
That off-season, the Kings signed Salmons to a multiyear deal reportedly worth $25.5 million.
The Kings’ second-leading scorer is Lenape High product Jason Thompson (14.0 ppg.). Thompson, a rookie, was the Kings’ first-round pick (12th overall) this year. He played at Rider.
After playing smooth, mistake-free basketball through one-and-a-half quarters Saturday night, the Sixers unraveled, finishing with 18 turnovers and a handful of inefficient end-of-game possessions.
Brand, whose averages of 18.3 points and 14.3 rebounds lead the team, said after Saturday’s loss that his team was a “work in progress” but promised the progress would come quickly.
In both losses, the Sixers have played well at the start. In the opener against the Raptors, the Sixers led by 11-4 and 15-9. On Saturday, the Sixers led by 44-21.
After Saturday night’s loss, Sixers coach Maurice Cheeks said it was “how we finished the game which was real disappointing.”
Free throws. Through three games, the Sixers have the same three-point shooting percentage (31.7) with which they finished last season, the worst in the NBA. . . . Small forward Thaddeus Young is 5 for 9 from beyond the arc for 55.6 percent. . . . The Sixers have 56 turnovers on the season, compared with 30 for their opponents. . . . Donyell Marshall was on the inactive list for Saturday night’s game, but Cheeks made it clear he would consistently rotate players into the lineup.
Contact staff writer Kate Fagan at 856-779-3844 or kfagan@phillynews.com.