Game preview: OKC Thunder look to get back in win column vs. Embiid-less 76ers

Attack 76ers weaknesses:

Force turnovers: All the typical analysis applies here as the 76ers remain a team who cough up the ball. Philly ranks 27th in turnovers so being aggressive with the ball handler is essential. Simmons coughed up the ball six times in the teams last meeting.

Clean the glass: Without Embiid or Boban the 76ers lose almost 20 rebounds which is significant given Philly are an excellent rebounding squad.

Force Ben Simmons to be a shooter: Through 60 games Simmons has attempted 724 shots with a field goal efficiency of 56.7 percent. Of those 409 came at the rim, 239 between 3 and 10 feet and only 76 from outside that distance.

Dive in deeper and you’ll notice the efficiency dips the further away he gets from the rim. To wit, he shoots 71.6 percent at the rim, 43.1 percent from three to -10 feet, 23.7 percent at 10-16 feet and 0.77 from 16 feet out to the 3-point line and we all know his trials above the arc (0.0 percent) not that he’ll be attempting shots from there (at least not this season).

Transition and perimeter defense: Landry Shamet connected on all three of his perimeter shots in the January 19th contest. He’s no longer with Philly, but he’s been replaced by Mike Scott. Plus star Tobias Harris is a lights out perimeter shooter. The trick will be running Harris and Redick off the line while simultaneously forcing Ben Simmons to shoot.

Let the big dog eat: Without Embiid or Boban the OKC Thunder need to make Steven Adams a priority in the offense. Who on the 76ers will be able to stop him from scoring?