The Sixers have endured a tumultuous start to their NBA Season, tallying a disappointing 2-7 record. Their rocky start can be attributed to a combination of injuries, off-the-court drama, and offensive struggles. A team that has championship aspirations is expected to be in a better position than they are now and will have to pull itself off the mat.
Bitten by the injury bug
It seems like the entire NBA has been plagued with injuries to start the season, and the Sixers are no different. Joel Embiid and Paul George missed the start of the season due to knee injuries. Embiid seems to have tweaked his left knee between training camp and the start of the preseason and has been sidelined since. George suffered a bone bruise due to a hyperextension against the Atlanta Hawks in the preseason, and he missed two weeks. George has since debuted for the Sixers and played his fourth game of the season in Sunday night’s win against the Charlotte Hornets.
With Embiid finally set to debut this upcoming Tuesday against the New York Knicks in the NBA Cup opener, the Sixers lost its all-star guard Tyrese Maxey to a hamstring injury. Maxey, who was trying to keep the team afloat, will be sidelined for at least a couple of weeks, and the Sixers will wisely take it slow, as hamstring injuries can linger.
Offensive woes
With all of the injuries this team has faced, the offense has become a significant issue. Without their star players, the team has struggled to find a rhythm and maintain an identity. With Maxey being the main cog, his efficiency to start the season took a dip as he struggled which led to a stagnating offense at some points during this early season.
The outside shooting has been an issue early on, as well, as the Sixers are 24th in the league in three-point shooting percentage and 26th in three-pointer made in per game. A lack of fluid ball movements for long stretches has made it easier for opposing teams to defend them. Without Joel Embiid and Paul George to start the season, many players were thrust into roles they may not be able to sustain. When all three stars are on the court, their offensive number should take a leap as opponents’ defenses focus on stopping Embiid.
Controversy
The Sixers’ star center, Joel Embiid, has not only dealt with an injury, but he has also dealt with some off-court challenges. He was recently suspended for three games after an “altercation” with Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Marcus Hayes.
The incident happened after a Sixers’ loss to the Memphis Grizzlies when Hayes entered the locker room just days after he wrote an article critical of Embiid’s early season absence and referenced his late brother and son. The column offended Embiid, and he made it known how he felt about Hayes and the article. Though Embiid was only suspended three games, this delayed his return to the court and put more eyes on the Sixers’ rough start.
The bright spots
Although it seemed like there would be nothing but turmoil at the start of the season, rookie Jared McCain and free agent pickup Guerschon Yabusele have been major bright spots. McCain has shown some major confidence for a rookie thus far in the opportunities he’s been given.
His best moment so far came in the Sixers’ overtime win against the Hornets. He scored a career-high 27 points off the bench and was the go-to guy for the squad down the stretch and in overtime. With Paul George on minutes restriction, the team relied on him to create offense in OT, and he made some big plays.
Yabusele was signed to a one-year contract after his performance in Paris at the 2024 Olympics. Early on, it looked to be an in-depth signing, but he is playing himself into a major contributor for this team. He plays hard, hustles, can shoot the three, and roll to the basket with power or finesse. He scored 20 points and pulled down eight rebounds off the bench against the Hornets and hit a career-high five three-pointers in a loss to the Phoenix Suns.
This team has had a rough start to the year, but optimism still remains. When all their stars return and are healthy, they will be a force in the Eastern Conference. There will be other bumps in the road as they gain chemistry, but the goal is still the same: to be healthy in April and have a shot at the title.
