76ers vs. Nets: 3 Sixers to Watch in Monday’s Preseason Game

The 76ers are set to battle the Nets on Monday night. Here are three players to keep an eye on.

The 2023 NBA Preseason has reached the halfway point for the Philadelphia 76ers.

So far, the Sixers have been winless through their first two games. Heading into both battles shorthanded, missing a handful of key players, the Sixers haven’t been able to overcome the Boston Celtics on both occasions.

When the Sixers take the floor once again on Monday night, they battle it out with a different opponent at last, going toe-to-toe with the Brooklyn Nets for the first time since their first-round playoff series last year.

Once again, the Sixers are going to be without a handful of players. Joel Embiid and James Harden are the two standouts who will take a seat once again. 

While neither player is dealing with a setback, the Sixers have wanted to ease their All-Stars back into the routine of a long season. Therefore, Harden and Embiid are set to miss at least three of four preseason matchups.

Beyond the stars, the Sixers are also expected to play without the sharpshooters Furkan Korkmaz and Danuel House. Unlike Harden and Embiid, the two reserves are battling lower-body injuries, which have affected their playing time throughout the preseason.

As the Sixers gear up for another preseason run, this time in Brooklyn, here are a few names to keep an eye on.

Sixers to Watch

Jaden Springer going up for a contested layup / USA Today

1. Jaden Springer

After spending the last two seasons viewed as a developmental prospect who would spend most of his time with the G League’s Delaware Blue Coats, Springer is presented with an opportunity to potentially crack a spot in the Sixers’ rotation in year three.

So far, he’s averaged 21 minutes on the floor in two games. During that time, he’s averaged 12 points while shooting nearly 70 percent from the field and 80 percent from three on 2.5 attempts per game. Springer’s shown confidence in his three-point shot and even dazzled a bit at times inside the arc, displaying clear growth in his offensive value.

Then there’s the defensive side of the ball, which is Springer’s bread and butter. He’s quick, strong, and more than capable of keeping up with guys on all three levels in the half-court. While I question whether a lack of experience will hurt Springer or not when it comes time to decide on the rotation, Springer has another chance to state his case on Monday night in Brooklyn. 

Mo Bamba during his first 76ers media day / USA Today

2. Mo Bamba

After loading up on backup fives behind Joel Embiid this offseason, the Sixers’ battle of bigs has been quite underwhelming. A lot of that has to do with Mo Bamba’s early struggles.

This preseason offers Bamba a chance to get a true fresh start after the Orlando Magic traded him away to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he was used as a rental for nine games. The big man hasn’t been gun-shy on the offensive end, but his accuracy has been way off. 

Attempting nearly seven shots per game in the first two outings, Bamba has made just 23 percent of his shots. His shooting touch has been way off, and he’s even shown signs of struggling down low, too. With five seasons under his belt, Bamba has proven to be productive in a bench role with the Magic, so that will be taken into account when roles are getting defined.

I would be skeptical of Bamba’s chances of beating out Paul Reed for backup center minutes regardless of how he plays in the preseason, but his first two showings surely won’t do him any favors. Monday night will offer another look at Bamba in his new situation.

Kelly Oubre during his second preseason game with the Sixers / USA Today

3. Kelly Oubre

Speaking of new additions, Kelly Oubre is a name that excited Sixers fans a few weeks back when he joined the team on a veteran’s minimum contract. Two games in, it’s not hard to see why Oubre was targeted by the 76ers during the offseason.

He packed a scoring punch in the first two outings, putting up 12 points per game while knocking down 44 percent of his five threes per game in limited time. 

Then, there’s the defensive side of the ball, where Oubre has impressed the Sixers the most, as he’s been active on that end of the floor, using his length to disrupt his opponents and get his hands on the ball for deflections.

Keeping an eye on Oubre is less about wondering whether he’ll lock up a rotation spot and more about just wanting to see him in action in Nick Nurse’s system once again, offering clarity on what he looks like from a consistency standpoint as well.