Performance vs. undermanned Brooklyn Nets shows Sixers don’t have enough to win the East | Mailbag

The Sixers don't appear to be deep enough to beat a quality team when then don't have their full compliment of starters.

Joel Embiid (21) reacts to a foul called on him during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets.Read moreFrank Franklin II / AP

by Keith Pompey

Published Jan. 8, 2021, 3:09 p.m. ET

This is the 40th edition of the weekly 76ers mailbag. Each week, Inquirer.com followers may submit questions to be answered.

Missed out on the party this week? No worries. Submit questions for next time by following me on Twitter @PompeyOnSixers and tweeting your inquiry with the hashtag #PompeysMailbagFlow.

Question: Do the Sixers have enough to win the Eastern Conference after this performance against Brooklyn without their key players? — @KevinTud18291

Answer: What’s up, Kevin? Thanks for the question. Based off what we saw Thursday night, I’m going to say no. We are talking about losing to a Nets squad that, while healthy, has yet to consistently find its groove. But this was worse. On Thursday, they lost to a Nets squad playing with their top three players — Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Spencer Dinwiddie — and six players total. It became obvious that the Sixers are a different team without all of their starters. They lost by 13 points on this night without Seth Curry. Back on Dec. 27, the suffered a 24-point setback to the Cleveland Cavaliers when Joel Embiid didn’t play. The Sixers don’t appear to be deep enough to beat a quality team when they don’t have their full compliment of starters. And in both instances, the Sixers opponents were also playing without core players.

Right now, the Sixers are giving up too many points on the perimeter and commit too many turnovers to be able to win the conference.

Q:I’ve been getting into a very passionate debate with Sixers fans lately. So two-part question. If Joel Embiid was to miss the rest of the season, can the Sixers still make the playoffs? And is Embiid currently the frontrunner for MVP? — @TheReal_MD28

A: Thanks for the question, King. I think they’re talented enough to make the postseason without Embiid. It would probably involved them participating in the play-in tournament instead of getting one of the top six seeds. But yes, they lose a lot when he’s not on the floor.

In regards to the frontrunner, I would have to say no. He’s definitely a candidate. I just wouldn’t call him the frontrunner. Like I wrote last week, in no particular order, LeBron James and Durant are the favorites to win the MVP award. But the Sixers lose a lot when Embiid doesn’t play, so that should account for something.

Embiid is tied for 16th in scoring (26.4 points per game), fifth in rebounding (11.8), and sixth in blocks (1.8). He’ll receive some consideration if he continues to dominate and the Sixers blossom into a legitimate title contender.

Q: Even though the Sixers have been playing great, when do you think their first big test of the season will be? — @clnovack14

A: What’s good, Charley? I hope you are well, man.

I thought the first big test was Thursday night in Brooklyn, and they failed miserably. With Curry or not, the Sixers were supposed to blow out what essentially was the Nets backup unit. However, they had their hands full en route to the double-digit loss. Some may point to the Sixers overlooking the Nets due to having a lot of players sidelined. But this should have been an easy statement game on national TV, a game where the Sixers get out a sizeable lead and are able to rest key players in the fourth quarter.

It didn’t happen.

I think their next four contests against the Denver Nuggets (Saturday), Atlanta Hawks (Monday) and Miami Heat (Tuesday and Thursday) will also be major defining tests.