“We are disgusted for him. He plays at such a high level. He's such a great kid, he brings so much energy, it really hurts. Everyone feels sorry for him. It sucks (…). I hope he comes back as soon as possible.”
Caleb Martin summed up the general feeling of the Sixers, a few days after the sad announcement of the torn meniscus of the left knee contracted by Jared McCain. Philly lost one of its rare reasons for satisfaction from a particularly complicated start to the season, which was running at more than 15 points per game and already saw itself as the future rookie of the year.
A mobilized group
While Joel Embiid is also absent, Nick Nurse's group still finds itself having to find alternatives to remain competitive on its back lines. For Guerschon Yabusele, the players concerned are ready to take over.
“It’s clear that it’s going to be difficult,” said the Frenchman. “Jared is one of a kind, he's a kid full of energy, who is not afraid and who is capable of bringing a lot of good things to the attack. I think it will be difficult, but we have a lot of guys here, even the G-League guys who come to practice with us. They are ready. Everyone will be ready to take this chance.”
The Eric Gordon option
At the back position, the first likely to compensate is none other thanEric Gordonwho is preparing to celebrate his 36th birthday in a week, and until then played a rotation role, at just under 17 minutes per game.
“Eric had some good training sessions. He is trying to get back in shape and prepare to return to the fire. These are positive signs. I would say he is probably one of the candidates to fill this position,” had also slipped Nick Nurse before the match against the Hornets.
Eric Gordon had more playing time with 26 minutes in Charlotte, and notably showed his advantage by making a 3/3 3-pointer in the second quarter to finish with 9 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist and 1 interception. Considering the duration of Jared McCain's absence, which could be counted in months and who could well be absent until next season, the former Rockets and Clippers will have to raise his voice.
| Shots | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Bp | Int | Ct | Party | Pts |
| Tyrese Maxey | 18 | 36.9 | 41.0 | 31.7 | 83.2 | 0.2 | 3.4 | 3.7 | 5.0 | 2.3 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 2.6 | 25.1 |
| Joel Embiid | 6 | 29.3 | 41.1 | 16.0 | 95.2 | 1.5 | 6.2 | 7.7 | 3.8 | 3.3 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 20.3 |
| Paul George | 14 | 31.5 | 43.7 | 35.2 | 79.1 | 0.6 | 4.6 | 5.3 | 5.1 | 2.8 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 2.3 | 17.1 |
| Jared McCain | 23 | 25.7 | 46.0 | 38.3 | 87.5 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 1.6 | 15.3 |
| Kelly Oubre, Jr. | 24 | 31.9 | 45.3 | 30.8 | 74.1 | 1.7 | 4.1 | 5.8 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 3.0 | 13.1 |
| Guerschon Yabusele | 24 | 23.8 | 47.6 | 37.4 | 61.4 | 1.7 | 3.7 | 5.3 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 2.6 | 9.2 |
| Caleb Martin | 20 | 29.1 | 40.5 | 29.4 | 67.2 | 1.4 | 3.3 | 4.6 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 1.7 | 8.7 |
| Andrew Drummond | 21 | 20.5 | 52.0 | 12.5 | 57.4 | 3.0 | 5.5 | 8.6 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 2.4 | 7.8 |
| Kj Martin | 21 | 19.3 | 64.7 | 41.2 | 82.8 | 0.9 | 1.8 | 2.7 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 2.5 | 6.7 |
| Kyle Lowry | 17 | 21.6 | 36.8 | 34.6 | 78.3 | 0.4 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 1.9 | 5.1 |
| Eric Gordon | 17 | 17.1 | 34.1 | 27.7 | 77.3 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 5.1 |
| Ricky Council IV | 19 | 12.1 | 39.0 | 23.3 | 82.4 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 5.0 |
| Reggie Jackson | 11 | 11.3 | 41.5 | 44.4 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 2.0 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 4.2 |
| Lester Quinones | 4 | 4.2 | 50.0 | 0.0 | 100.0 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.3 |
| Jeff Dowtin | 8 | 10.0 | 31.6 | 12.5 | 75.0 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 2.0 |
| Justin Edwards | 2 | 4.5 | 66.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
| Adem Bona | 14 | 6.5 | 61.5 | 0.0 | 83.3 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 1.5 |
