76ers vs. Pistons: Key Talking Points

Coming off a big win against the Boston Celtics Wednesday, the Philadelphia 76ers travel to Detroit to take on the Pistons. This will be their first matchup in the group play round of the in-season tournament.

This matchup features teams trending in completely opposite directions. The Sixers sit in first place in the Eastern Conference following their six-game win streak. Meanwhile, the Pistons sit in last place and are losers of six straight.

As Joel Embiid and company look to secure another win on the road, here are some key talking points.

Which rising star will shine brighter?

One thing this game will have is two of the top young talents from the 2020 draft class. That being former No. 1 pick Cade Cunningham and Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey.

Through the first few weeks of the season, both guards are off to a great start. After missing a majority of last season due to injury, Cunningham has come back in good form. Heading into Friday, he is averaging 24.0 PPG, 3.7 RPG, and 7.1 APG.

Both of these young guards are focal points for their respective teams and could very well be matched up on one another during the game. That said, which guard will be able to outplay the other is something worth monitoring in this one.

Can the Pistons' size slow down Joel Embiid?

In the modern NBA, teams have strayed away from carrying multiple big men. However, the Pistons might be one of the bigger teams in the league. With multiple options at center available, it will be interesting to see how they use their size to defend Joel Embiid.

As one of the top players in the game right now, there is no fully stopping a player the caliber of Embiid. That said, the Pistons might have a roster capable of at least making life difficult for him. Between Jalen Duren, James Wiseman, and Marvin Bagley, Monty Williams can throw size at the reigning MVP all night long.

Embiid has been on a dominant tear to start the season. Given their optionality in the frontcourt, how the Pistons defend Embiid might be the biggest matchup to watch in this game.

Can the Sixers keep the momentum rolling on the road?

After starting the season on the road, the Sixers enjoyed a nice week-and-a-half stretch on their home court. They won all five games of the home stand but now have to go back on the road for the first time since October 28th.

The Sixers have a lot of momentum but now don't have their home crowd behind them. How they come out of the gates after having to travel will be something to watch in this game.

Similar to their matchup against the Washington Wizards Monday, this is a game where the Sixers have to come out and take care of business. Even though it's on the road, the Pistons are a young team that is struggling right now. The Sixers have to stay laser-focused and not overlook a lowly opponent. The last thing they want to do is give Detroit a chance to steal a big win like this on their home court.