The Philadelphia 76ers host the Houston Rockets at Wells Fargo Center on Friday.
The Rockets (34-15) come into this matchup losing two-straight and and six of their last nine. What people feared about this team is starting to comeback to bite them, as they’ve really struggled shooting in this poor stretch. With a team like this who is poised to set an NBA record in both three-pointers made and attempted, losing stretches like this are inevitable. That’s what makes this team so hard to trust too, with the defense still far below league average. It’s no fault of James Harden though, as he’s nearing triple-double averages and is currently a top-two favorite for MVP with his current form. It’s players like Trevor Ariza and Ryan Anderson who need to step up, as both players are playing below expectations right now.
The Sixers (17-27) are one of the surprises in the NBA, as they’ve won eight of their last 10 games. What makes the run equally as impressive is the fact that the last two wins have come without Joel Embiid. That doesn’t mean Embiid isn’t missed though, as Philly has one of the three-worst plus-minus’ marks in the league when Embiid is off the floor. The reason for his absence is knee soreness and that’s a major concern with his previous leg injuries. The star rookie comes into this game with a doubtful tag and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him miss extended time with the Sixers more worried about the future, rather than the present. It’s the play of Nerlens Noel, T.J. McConnell and Robert Covington that’s allowed them to win games and the “Trust the Process” moniker is finally paying dividends after years of infutility.
