Last night’s Sixers loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder was far from the worst loss the team has had this season. On paper, a big loss to a resurgent team while missing Joel Embiid and multiple key role players should be far from a team’s breaking point. Especially when the Sixers faced much harsher losses over the last 2 weeks on the road against the Sacramento Kings and the Golden State Warriors, one might think their most recent loss should pale in comparison.
What’s happened to the Sixers?
But something has felt fundamentally different about the recent skid. Perhaps because, in some part, there weren’t clear, identifiable problems with clean-cut solutions like in the Warriors game (seriously- who plays zone defense against Steph Curry?).
Sure, Paul George put up a miserable 5 of 18 field goals against Sacramento, but for the most part, the quality of his shot was fine – they just weren’t landing. But his absence from the lineup against Oklahoma seemed to only exasperate existing issues.
While missing Embiid does create more defensive pressure on shooters, one would expect All-Stars like Paul George and Tyrese Maxey, plus seasoned veterans like Eric Gordon, Kelly Oubre, and even Reggie Jackson to have the tools and skills to manage that. Combine that with the growing fear that Joel Embiid’s best playing days might actually be behind him, and last night’s game may have fans wondering if the Sixers just do not have the magic they need this year.
But the season is far from over, and anything can still happen. Its time for the Sixers to sit down and figure out what the rest of the season – and hopefully, the playoffs – might look like.
Righting the ship
First thing’s first – it’s unlikely that the Sixers make a gigantic splash at the deadline. They do not seem to have any interest in shopping around Paul George, especially for an equally-risky Jimmy Butler who would probably also cost a pick or two. While they should absolutely look to add a stronger role player, anyone they trade for would almost certainly be a guy that the front office can see fitting in well with how the Sixers approach the rest of the season.
Which brings me to my next point – the Sixers need a clear offensive identity. With the barrage of injuries, this team has run countless different lineup configurations, making it challenging for guys to understand how each man’s style of play varies depending on the opponent and what teammates are on the court.
This is especially true given how the majority of current Sixers are new to the team and haven’t had the time to build an on-court relationship. Paul George’s shooting will not improve if his teammates do not communicate with one another and continually squeeze him into a contested jumper at the end of the the shot clock.
The Sixers’ conversations in the locker room and at practice need to be about what each player needs to be successful when the ball is in his hands. Whether that’s setting different screens, cutting in for a pass earlier in the possession, or simply distracting a defender long enough to get an open look, the Sixers need to build communication to the point where each player knows how he can best support his teammates.
A perfect example of this is Tyrese Maxey. Early this season, Maxey discussed building a 1-2 punch with KJ Martin while Embiid was not on the court. After coming from the same draft class and playing together for a year now, the duo began putting together some really great possessions. But with more instability and different struggles of his own, Maxey has yet to find on-court support when Embiid is on the bench.
Lastly, it’s time for Nick Nurse to be a bit more intentional about the plays he’s designing. Again, with the ever-changing rotation and injuries, a lot of this season has been trial and error – which makes sense. But there also needs to be an effort to analyze what situations a player has done well in, and to run those plays as much as possible to set him up for success.
Another example: Paul George. The nine-time All-Star had some great pull-up shots off a drag screen (or double drag screen) early on in the season, but that’s not something they’ve really replicated much since. While making adjustments is always part of a coach’s role, Nurse should be primarily considering how to position his players – especially ones who are struggling – to succeed, or at least nullify the weaknesses.
The regular season is far from over, but last night’s loss felt like a critical juncture. If the Sixers are going to find success in the back half of the season and make the playoffs, it’s time for them to make some key changes.
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
