NBA games of the week: Season starts now

Monday, Dec. 25: Philadelphia at New York, 12:00 p.m. ET

December has not been great for the Sixers. After a solid 13-9 start one crazy slate of losses from jumping to the upper half of the Easter Conference standings, Philly has lost nine of 11.

Joel Embiid hides a lot of their issues with his ability to dominate on both ends, but he’s been out with a sore back. He played 22 minutes against the Raptors on Saturday, but at times looked frustrated and clogged up. He’s expected to play against the Knicks, which needs to happen because a potential shot-for-shot performance between Kristaps Porzingis and him is exactly how you start the Christmas Day games.

The Sixers’ drop-off was to be expected. They’re a young team with a core of guys who are bound to make mistakes so early in their careers. They lack shooting all-around to buoy the team when someone like J.J. Redick or Robert Covington isn’t making them. Simmons’ inability to shoot continues to be an issue, and if the Sixers continue to miss shots, teams will have no problem collapsing the entire paint to stop Embiid in the post.

Their turnover rate of 19.1 percent over the last 10 games is worse than their already league-leading 17.6 percent over the whole season. They’ve had at least 20 turnovers in each of the last six games.

As for the Knicks, well, Michael Beasley has become the hero the city may not have wanted, but needs.