CAMDEN, N.J. -- Dario Saric is doubtful to play Tuesday against the Grizzlies. There is no need to hit the panic button, though. Unlike the Sixers laundry list of injuries, this decision is based on rest.
“[It is] just the rhythm of how I want to sit people and give them time off,” Brett Brown said Monday after practice. “I feel that he also has had a long summer. I sense sometimes that he is sore and I want to be mindful of that. I choose that game tomorrow night for some of those reasons.”
Brown has been conscious of Saric’s workload from the beginning of training camp, saying at the preseason opener “I am completely paranoid about him.” He often notes the grind of Saric’s summer, from playing in EuroLeague to the Rio Olympics to coming to Philadelphia. Saric also has had a sore back and has been playing without restrictions.
Saric has played 18 minutes in each of his first three games. After averaging 12 points and shooting 69.2 percent in his first two contests, Saric struggled Saturday against the Cavaliers. He shot 1 for 7 from the field. While he participated in practice Monday, Brown sees benefits in him taking the next game off.
“Generally I’m happy how I play,” Saric said. “This last game I was a little bit maybe tired. My legs weren’t ready for that game. I need the time because this rhythm of the game I never played.”
Saric is in his first NBA season after playing pro ball in Europe since 2009. The Sixers acquired Saric on draft night 2014 from the Magic and waited two years for him to come to Philadelphia.
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In a short period of time, Brown has been impressed by Saric’s work ethic and professionalism. He described Saric as a “prideful defender … a prideful worker.”
“I love coaching Dario,” Brown said. “I think that he’s tough, he’s smart, he’s everything that we thought he was going to be. He’s still learning. He’s starting to try to figure out NBA vocabulary. But I think he’s been great.”
Jerryd Bayless (left wrist soreness) and Nerlens Noel (left groin strain) did not practice Monday. Jahlil Okafor (right knee rehab), Nik Stauskas (left hamstring strain) and Cat Barber (right hand/wrist injury) had individualized workloads and did not scrimmage.
Joel Embiid and Gerald Henderson will continue to play under their 12-minute restrictions Tuesday.
