Sixers remain the NBA’s most confusing team
Who knows how good or bad they are? Injuries have plagued them but there is promise. Then they got blown out by the Cavs on Saturday.
CLEVELAND — The 76ers have the potential to become a legitimate contender.
The Sixers have, at best, an NBA play-in tournament ceiling.
The Sixers are energetic. The Sixers are weak.
The Sixers … who knows what they are?
Through 26 games, they are the NBA’s most confusing team, on the brink of either glory or gory. It changes every day, sometimes every second. For proof, just consider how the Sixers (9-17) are in 12th place in the Eastern Conference standings, but just four games out of sixth place.
They seemingly were on the cusp of turning things around heading into Saturday night’s much-anticipated matchup against the first-place Cleveland Cavaliers. They headed into Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse winners of two straight and six of their last eight games.
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Yet they suffered a 126-99 setback. The 27-point margin was their most lopsided loss of the season. It was also the most points the Sixers surrendered. And it was the seventh time they failed to score 100 points.
Optimists will point out that the Sixers were without Joel Embiid, who missed the game to rest. They’ll mention that the often-injured center finished with 34 points and nine assists to lead the Sixers to a 108-98 victory over the woeful Charlotte Hornets the night before. The 2023 league MVP mentioned at training camp that he would not play in back-to-back games this season.
Embiid, who donned a mask, played Friday night after missing a game with a right sinus fracture. But the obvious question was: Why did he play against the Hornets (7-21) as opposed to facing the Cavs (25-4)?
The Sixers had already defeated Charlotte three times this season without him. And it was obvious that their chances of beating Cleveland without him would be slim.
“I don’t think there’s a formula,” coach Nick Nurse said of what goes into deciding which game Embiid misses during back-to-backs. “But, again, this is all medical mostly, right? Simon [Rice, the Sixers vice president of athlete care] and his team and Joel and his team and the team doctors and all the stuff are involved with.”
Fortunately for the Sixers, Embiid is expected to play in Monday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs at the Wells Fargo Center.
But that will only be the fifth game that the Sixers’ Big Three of Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George will play together.
The lack of cohesion has been a major reason for Philly’s offensive shortcomings.
The Sixers rank last in the league in assists (21.6 per game), made field goals (37.9) and scoring (105.7). They are ranked 29th in pace (97.18) and rebounding (40.4).
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There’s more.
The Sixers rank 27th in offensive rating (107.5) and three-point percentage (.329); 25th in made three-pointers (11.7), and in field goal percentage (.443).
Having George being less stagnant on offense would be a step in the right direction.
“I think we’ve got to move a little bit more,” he said Saturday after the loss. “I’ve got to move a little bit more. I thought tonight was a poor effort on my behalf of just moving. A lot of it was stagnant, and I’m going to see a lot of loaded-up defenses.
“So I’ve got to move a little bit better. I’ve got to run the floor a little harder. Same stuff I’ve been saying, but I’ve got to be consistent on that front to allow myself to get some easier opportunities.”
George has averaged 8.0 points while shooting a combined 6-for-24 — including 2 of 11 on three-pointers — in the last two games.
He doesn’t attribute the lack of movement to his shooting woes. Nor does George think it has to do with being out of rhythm due to not being the primary ballhandler.
“I’m trying to make something happen,” he said. “I’m trying to make plays, and then playing on the other end, trying to get stops, trying to rebound, trying to run, it zaps you a little bit. But I’ve just got to get to spots. I think more than anything, getting to spots and getting comfortable in those spots, because sometimes in a game like tonight, you can’t get all the way to the rim.
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“I should look at this as more of a midrange game and try to find spots to kind of raise up and shoot over as opposed to playing behind the perimeter or trying to get to the rim. I should have looked at it for what it was. They’ve got two giants [Cleveland power forward Evan Mobley and center Jarrett Allen] in there, kind of play that game.”
Monday’s contest against the Spurs (15-13) and the road Christmas Day game against the Boston Celtics are two more barometer games to see how good the Sixers are. The defending NBA champion Celtics have a 22-6 record, second-best in the league.
“Both teams will be a challenge,” George said.