Kelly Oubre Jr.’s strong message to 76ers after embarrassing loss to Grizzlies

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia 76ers presented a serious contender for their worst loss of the season by squandering a 15-point lead on the Memphis Grizzlies. One of the worst teams in the league, with injuries to nearly all of its starters and several primary backups, overcame a big deficit to put the Sixers back their second consecutive defeat.

The fact that the 76ers are shorthanded is no excuse. Against a Grizzlies team made up of mostly young and/or fringe NBA players, not having Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey or Kyle Lowry shouldn’t have stopped Philly from winning. Now just half a game behind the eighth seed, the Sixers’ margin for error is only getting smaller.

“I am go just say This: I think We could I’m learning a lot from this evening”, Kelly Oubre. said after the defeat.

Coming into this game, the 76ers were on the verge of losing to the lackluster Brooklyn Nets. They held a comfortable lead in this game as well, before a brutal fourth quarter undid their work. A surprising road win against the Dallas Mavericks has since been undone by losing two easily winnable games.

“It was a true testament to ‘Hard work trumps talent when talent doesn’t work hard.’ I just think that was THE entire essential of THE game tonight,” Oubre said of the loss to the Grizzlies. “THey just blocked with he For 48 minutes and me think We kind of expired In THE third [quarter].”

Being outscored 34-16 in the fourth quarter by the G League-level holdovers of the Grizzlies should serve as a wake-up call. Cam Payne seems to have realized this, saying the 76ers need to do a better job of finishing games.

Cam Payne on the Sixers’ 4th quarter issues:

“I feel like we have to keep playing. I feel like we slow down sometimes when the 4th strikes and I feel like we just have to keep the identity… We have to continue to be the enforcers for the entire 48 minutes. pic.twitter.com/xuuYd13ypl

– Sam DiGiovanni (@BySamDiGiovanni) March 7, 2024

Life without Joel Embiid is difficult, especially now with Tyrese Maxey dealing with a concussion. But it doesn’t have to be devoid of easy success. The 76ers can’t afford that as they look to secure the best possible playoff seed.

Tobias Harris was good against the Nets and terrible against the Grizzlies, unable to establish any rhythm or Arming the Gravity of the Score he had his first option. Key players committed fouls too often in each game (Kyle Lowry against Brooklyn, Paul Reed against Memphis). A lot of things went wrong in these games that Philly can’t write off as just a bad night.

“I would be instead just discuss he together as A team And just get better Since that,” Oubre said. “But We have has learn Since This situation. It is obviously A negative time For Philadelphia. Asd It is difficult as A player. As, I can’t even go on My phone, RIGHT? Because After THE I play you just feel SO embarrassed And You feel like you to leave THE city down, You to leave your team down And thing as that. But it is something we must face and overcome.

The 76ers cost themselves two easy wins despite controlling each game at different times. In their next 15 games, they will face a team that has a winning record 13 times. Only five of these matches will be played at home. They better follow Oubre’s advice and learn from their mistakes before they overdo it so they can come back.