The Philadelphia 76ers lost their second straight game. This time at the hands of Devin Booker and the red hot Phoenix Suns.
The starters were impressive, and for the most part, the team showed fight, but there were still a couple disappointing takeaways from the game.
Quality, not Quantity
The Sixers shot an impressive 41.2% from three, a remarkable turnaround after their 22.2% effort against Portland.
The team took smart threes, which led to them falling at a high rate, but the quality means nothing at that sample size.
The Sixers only attempted 17 shots from deep, less than half the league average. While the 76ers as a team are near the bottom of the league in terms of 3PA per game, it’s inexcusable to take less than 20 threes in today’s NBA.
The team may not shoot like the Clippers, but they’re handcuffing themselves by not taking the attempts necessary to succeed.
Shooting more threes doesn’t ensure a win, just ask the Dallas Mavericks, but if you’re shooting 40%, you have to keep shooting.
The Philadelphia 76ers Need More
The starters once again looked sharp as they managed to score 91 points as a unit. Joel Embiid played at his now expected MVP level, and Ben Simmons showed the aggression fans have clamored for.
What cost the team the game was the performance of the bench. 20 points on 6/18 shooting is not going to cut it.
Yes, the Sixers have a talented starting lineup, but they will have to be able to rely on the bench. The team is set up well for the future with the youth currently on their bench but the here and now must be considered.
Additions must be made, more than one ideally, but at least one move must happen.
Utilizing the team’s $8.2 million trade exception is a likely route for Daryl Morey to take. That is certainly something to watch over the next few weeks leading up to the trade deadline.
