The Sixers couldn’t shoot or protect the basketball last night. The bench offered up pretty much nothing and the effort was maybe a 1.8 on a scale of 10.

That’s good enough for a 17-point loss to a 16-25 Wizards team, a team they clobbered by… <checks notes> …17 points on Tuesday night.

They split with a bad team in the world’s most useless home-and-home series, a series that they needed to sweep.

They needed to sweep it because this is what the schedule looks like after three more cupcake games against the Hawks, Knicks, and Wolves:

• at Pacers
• vs Thunder
• vs Rockets
• vs Spurs
• at Nuggets
• at Lakers
• at Warriors
• at Kings
• vs Raptors
• vs Nuggets
• vs Lakers
• vs Celtics

How many guaranteed wins do you see in there?

Yep.

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The Sixers were beating the Wizards so badly last night that Joel Embiid decided to take a seat in the second row, just off the end of the team bench.

Problem is, a young kid was already sitting there. So Embiid did what anybody would do, and let the kid sit on his lap instead:

@JoelEmbiid took this young fan’s seat. So he gave up his lap!! @sixers #process #TrusttheProcess #class pic.twitter.com/DXhKYAmZYb

— Frank Murphy 📚 (@frankmurphy2009) January 9, 2019

Joel asked the child what he wanted for Christmas, to which the kid reportedly said, “I’d like an NBA title and for PennDOT to hurry the fuck up with the I-95 construction project.”

I was not able to confirm that report, but Embiid later spoke about his interaction after the game:

“I just asked him what his name was and how old he was and if he wanted to play basketball when he’s older. He said yes.”

Joel was asked a follow-up, something about Philly fans in general:

“They show me a lot of love, and I feel like I’ve showed them a lot of love, too. A lot of times I need them to get going. Sometimes the game is kind of easy and I just relax, but I always need someone in the background to push me to play harder and keep dominating. That’s what they do to me. We have a special relationship. I would love to be here for the rest of my career, and these are the type of fans I want to play for.”

I think Philadelphia would love to have him here for the rest of his career. Trust the reciprocity.

Worst kept secret out there.

Keith Pompey and Jason Blevins were the first ones to report and/or intimate that 6’7″ Blue Coats swingman Haywood Highsmith would take the two-way roster spot vacated by Demetrius Jackson, who was waived on Sunday in order to pursue an opportunity in China.

From the press release:

“In 22 G League games, he holds averages of 13.8 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 33.3 minutes per game, while shooting .450 from the field and .394 from three-point range. He’s posted five 20-point performances, including a career-high 23-point outing in a Dec. 10 victory over the Oklahoma City Blue. Highsmith shot 10-14 in that game and added six rebounds, three assists and career highs of four steals and two blocks. On Dec. 28 at Fort Wayne, Highsmith tallied 20 points as he shot a perfect 7-7 from the field, including 4-4 from three-point range, and 2-2 from the free-throw line, while adding six rebounds, two assists and two steals in the win.”

Highsmith spent four years at division two Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia. He’s a 3 and D wing player with a lot of upside, sort of a youngish Robert Covington type with a slightly better handle, in my opinion. That’s really what the Sixers need right now – two-way wing guys who can shoot a bit, play some defense, and beef up the bench. Demetrius Jackson found himself way down on the point guard depth chart with no real opportunity to break into the Sixers rotation, so the decision to let him go and sign Highsmith to the open two-way spot makes a lot more sense.

More from the release:

“…based upon this contract signing date, Highsmith can spend a maximum 24 service days with the 76ers this regular season, not including any time spent with Philadelphia following the conclusion of Delaware’s regular season.”

He’s an intriguing guy. A couple of highlight videos after the jump:

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We got a press release this morning describing the hiring of someone who sounds like a much more important version of a sports psychologist.

It’s not to downplay the resume and career achievements of Annelie Schmittel, PhD, who was a player engagement expert for the Oakland Raiders prior to coming to Philadelphia. But she seems more or less like the Markelle Fultz whisperer, a 2019 type of hire to oversee the mental health and personal development of young athletes who become millionaires at age 20 while being simultaneously thrust into the world’s biggest spotlights.

Per press release:

In her new role as 76ers Vice President of Player Development, Schmittel will be responsible for creating, managing and overseeing the holistic development and implementation of programs that support the professional and personal growth of 76ers players, staff and families.

With nearly a decade of experience in athlete development, Schmittel joins the team after spending the last three seasons with the Oakland Raiders. Also boasting experience working with NCAA Division I and II collegiate athletes, Schmittel is a proven leader with an unparalleled passion for maximizing players’ athletic and personal growth, on and off the court. Under Schmittel’s creative leadership and innovative mindset, the 76ers will continue to augment on-court progress with off-court development and strive to help players balance on-court priorities and personal responsibilities.

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Impostor alert.

Some dude made a fake Brett Brown Twitter account and accumulated a ton of followers before this jawn was suspended.

Said the real Brett Brown at practice today, jokingly:

“Last night I’m watching the Philadelphia Eagles game and one of my guys calls and says something about a new Twitter account. I’ve got a new Twitter account, like I’m following everybody. I have no idea. I don’t even know how to log in to Twitter. You’ve got this fake coach Brett Brown out there that’s, it’s social media, and this is the world we live in. I’m completely surprised that’s not against the law, but what do I know? So a little while ago the league helped us take Brett Brown off Twitter.”

So no, Brett was never on Twitter.

There is, however, a parody account still out there:

Trying to move Mockelle to get up to numbah five with Dallas but Mock Cuban is being a bonah about it. @mcuban #sixers #mavericks #NBADraft18

— Brett Brown (@SixersBrown) June 21, 2018