What are the Sixers' weaknesses, and which second-tier free agents can fix them?
6 years, 8 months ago

What are the Sixers' weaknesses, and which second-tier free agents can fix them?

New York Times  

These two things are both true: the Sixers should have won more than one game against the Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals and the Celtics exposed some severe and fundamental weaknesses in the Sixers’ roster that need fixing. No player on the Sixers’ roster last year could, for lack of more nuanced terms, both shoot and handle the ball. Bonus points go to players who can create a bit of their own offense — there wasn’t a single multi-level scorer on the Sixers’ roster last year besides the theoretical version of Markelle Fultz, and that’s a quirk that definitively limits any basketball team’s ceiling. With Bradley hounding and denying the ball from stars, and Simmons, Covington, and Embiid lurking behind him, the Sixers’ defense would be impenetrable. For as much as Redick’s departure would hurt the Sixers’ offense, there’s an argument that it’d be outweighed by Ariza’s addition to the defense.

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History of this topic

Struggling 76ers dealing with rash of injuries to key players
2 months ago

Struggling 76ers dealing with rash of injuries to key players

Associated Press  

MILWAUKEE — The Philadelphia 76ers are dealing with injuries to several key players and it goes far beyond star center Joel Embiid, who has played in only 13 games this season and skipped the team’s current trip with swelling in his left knee. In Saturday night’s loss to the Indiana Pacers, the 76ers played without five crucial players — including …

Sixers’ next steps, Nuggets’ MVP connection and more NBA trends I’m watching
2 months, 1 week ago

Sixers’ next steps, Nuggets’ MVP connection and more NBA trends I’m watching

New York Times  

A once-hopeful contender is wallowing. Let’s open up the notebook to run through three NBA trends that have caught my eye over the past week: Coping in Philadelphia The most Philadelphian moment in history occurred Tuesday night. Never before has a team used Powell this way, scuttling him around this many screens away from the basketball, and it’s working on …

Joel Embiid and the Sixers are beginning to look like what we thought they’d be
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Joel Embiid and the Sixers are beginning to look like what we thought they’d be

New York Times  

PORTLAND, Ore. — When Joel Embiid is making jumpers, displaying the uncommon outside touch that has defined his career while running pick-and-pop action with Tyrese Maxey, he’s a great offensive basketball player. On Monday night, in a 125-103 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, Embiid’s season-high 37 points, and the way they came provided as strong an indication yet that …

Sixers lose season opener without their MVP: ‘Us winning cannot solely be on Joel Embiid’
5 months ago

Sixers lose season opener without their MVP: ‘Us winning cannot solely be on Joel Embiid’

New York Times  

PHILADELPHIA — The 76ers opened their season at home without Joel Embiid and Paul George in uniform, a disappointing start to a season full of promise. “The plan is why he’s not playing,” Sixers coach Nick Nurse said. They aren’t publicly explaining how it works, what determines his readiness and why he hasn’t crossed the threshold to play more than …

Joel Embiid stars with 23-point double-double as the 76ers silence halftime boos to squeeze past Miami in NBA Play-In... Philadelphia secures 7th seed and first-round clash vs Knicks
11 months, 1 week ago

Joel Embiid stars with 23-point double-double as the 76ers silence halftime boos to squeeze past Miami in NBA Play-In... Philadelphia secures 7th seed and first-round clash vs Knicks

Daily Mail  

Joel Embiid spearheaded the Philadelphia 76ers in a one-point win over the Miami Heat in Wednesday's Play-In game. Joel Embiid recorded 23 points and 15 rebounds to lead the 76ers past the Heat, 105-104 Ridiculous Rear Contest block from Batum that sealed the 76ers win: pic.twitter.com/qBQBhUg09M — Coach Gibson Pyper April 18, 2024 Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler scored 19 …

Embiid elevates Sixers as Rockets crash again
1 year, 2 months ago

Embiid elevates Sixers as Rockets crash again

China Daily  

Joel Embiid missed three games with a swollen left knee, then came back as strong as ever on Monday. Embiid, who has missed 10 games this season, returned to produce his 17th straight game with at least 30 points and his 16th in a row with double-digit rebounds. "I was just trying to get back into it slowly and let …

Post-Harden Sixers shed the bad vibes
1 year, 4 months ago

Post-Harden Sixers shed the bad vibes

China Daily  

Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid get pumped up during the Philadelphia 76ers' victory over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday. Embiid had 27 points and 10 rebounds and Maxey had 25 points and nine assists to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to their sixth straight win, 106-103, over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night. Jayson Tatum's 3-pointer pulled the Celtics to 94-87 …

The 76ers’ post-James Harden steps are occasionally wobbly but promising
1 year, 4 months ago

The 76ers’ post-James Harden steps are occasionally wobbly but promising

New York Times  

PHILADELPHIA — The answer isn’t obvious. Of course, it’s more like, “whatever it wants to be — as long as it keeps Joel Embiid happy.” But that’s always in the sauce here, whether it was Jimmy Butler or Al Horford or Ben Simmons or Harden — or, now, Tyrese Maxey — serving as the loyal second to the now-defending league …

Sixers' Joel Embiid hopes that James Harden's 'mindset can be changed'
1 year, 8 months ago

Sixers' Joel Embiid hopes that James Harden's 'mindset can be changed'

Daily Mail  

Joel Embiid said he was 'disappointed' when he learned that his Philadelphia 76ers teammate James Harden wanted to leave the team. Embiid told Showtime's Rachel Nichols at the NBA Summer League Party in Las Vegas on Saturday that he would remain friends with Harden, as he understood that the move was a business decision. 'People make decisions and I'm more …

76ers’ Embiid doubtful; Celtics vow adjustments for Game 2
1 year, 10 months ago

76ers’ Embiid doubtful; Celtics vow adjustments for Game 2

Associated Press  

BOSTON — Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said he didn’t walk off the court feeling any panic following Boston’s 119-115 Eastern Conference semifinals loss to the 76ers in Game 1. What’s troubling for the Celtics, though, is that Philadelphia was able to win the physical battle down the stretch without All-Star Joel Embiid, who was sidelined with a sprained right knee. …

Celtics-Sixers preview: Can 76ers survive Joel Embiid’s injury? Predictions and more
1 year, 10 months ago

Celtics-Sixers preview: Can 76ers survive Joel Embiid’s injury? Predictions and more

New York Times  

After a brief scare from the Hawks, the matchup we’ve been waiting for is finally here. The Celtics scored 117.4 points per 100 possessions against Philadelphia during Embiid’s minutes across four regular season matchups — that’s a hair better than Boston’s second-ranked offense averaged across the full season. Embiid wasn’t yelling at Maxey, but he did express that the Sixers …

Sixers’ Joel Embiid ‘doubtful’ for Game 1: How does this change Celtics’ game plan?
1 year, 10 months ago

Sixers’ Joel Embiid ‘doubtful’ for Game 1: How does this change Celtics’ game plan?

New York Times  

By Shams Charania, Jared Weiss and Rich Hofmann Sixers star Joel Embiid is doubtful for Game 1 on Monday, Philadelphia coach Doc Rivers said Saturday, and his knee injury is considered to be more serious than a Grade 1 LCL sprain, league sources told The Athletic. Here’s what you need to know: Rivers said Embiid didn’t practice Saturday and will …

Sixers’ Joel Embiid trusts a different process as Nets continue to send double-teams
1 year, 11 months ago

Sixers’ Joel Embiid trusts a different process as Nets continue to send double-teams

New York Times  

In an unorthodox move, Philadelphia 76ers coach Doc Rivers called a timeout just one minute into the third quarter on Monday night. So, I thought we needed to talk about it.” Rivers said the Sixers “lost their way” and “got outside of ourselves.” Sixers forward Tobias Harris did not believe the team’s body language was positive. When the defense rotates …

Nets-Sixers playoff preview: Nic Claxton vs. Joel Embiid, X-factors, prediction and more
1 year, 11 months ago

Nets-Sixers playoff preview: Nic Claxton vs. Joel Embiid, X-factors, prediction and more

New York Times  

For the second time in four years, the Nets head south on Interstate 95 to face the Sixers in the No. Here’s what to watch on the Nets’ end of the series: The schedule Nets-Sixers Schedule DAY DATE AWAY HOME GM ET TV / R Sat 4/15 Brooklyn Philadelphia 1 1:00 PM ESPN Mon 4/17 Brooklyn Philadelphia 2 7:30 PM …

Sixers-Nets preview: Doubling Joel Embiid, Mikal Bridges vs. P.J. Tucker and more
1 year, 11 months ago

Sixers-Nets preview: Doubling Joel Embiid, Mikal Bridges vs. P.J. Tucker and more

New York Times  

Before the season, every NBA fan would have immediately signed up for a Sixers-Nets playoff series. To that point, Sixers coach Doc Rivers was asked if it might be more of a challenge to defend Brooklyn without Simmons’ limited offensive game on the floor. While Embiid is the Sixers’ best player, Harden is the one moving the chess pieces. In …

How Sixers have built an elite isolation offense with Joel Embiid, James Harden
1 year, 11 months ago

How Sixers have built an elite isolation offense with Joel Embiid, James Harden

New York Times  

In Game 72 of P.J. I can see everything.” Spacing around Embiid has always been crucial to the Sixers, and in the case of the isolation, the key is getting into what Rivers calls the “three and one.” That means three players on the weak side and one in the strong-side corner. While Rivers didn’t reveal the exact number, he …

Sixers’ perimeter defense remains a question mark
2 years, 2 months ago

Sixers’ perimeter defense remains a question mark

New York Times  

The way James Harden describes it, the Philadelphia 76ers gave the Oklahoma City Thunder confidence early on Thursday night, and the Thunder “rode that wave the entire game.” Though Harden’s assessment was correct, he also was one of the main culprits in allowing the young Thunder to get up on the metaphorical surfboard. “I thought they came with the right …

Sixers’ transition defense reaches new lows in lifeless loss to Toronto
2 years, 4 months ago

Sixers’ transition defense reaches new lows in lifeless loss to Toronto

New York Times  

For years, the Toronto Raptors have been Joel Embiid’s kryptonite. “We just gifted guys shots early,” Sixers coach Doc Rivers told reporters in Toronto. It doesn’t matter how much offensive firepower the Sixers have on the roster, no team in the NBA can win consistently by giving up as many easy points as they consistently do. “And I thought they …

Philadelphia 76ers preview: Why I’m picking the Sixers to win the NBA title and Joel Embiid to win MVP this season
2 years, 5 months ago

Philadelphia 76ers preview: Why I’m picking the Sixers to win the NBA title and Joel Embiid to win MVP this season

New York Times  

Last season: 51-31 ; 12th in offense, 12th in defense Key additions: PF P.J. Tucker, SG De’Anthony Melton, SF Danuel House Jr., C Montrezl Harrell Key subtractions: SG Danny Green, C DeAndre Jordan, PF Paul Millsap Draft picks: None Are we sleeping on the Philadelphia 76ers? Let’s go backward before we go forward: Philly was the top seed in the …

In Joel Embiid-Nikola Jokic clash, Nuggets edge Sixers as Philly’s defense and bench struggle
3 years ago

In Joel Embiid-Nikola Jokic clash, Nuggets edge Sixers as Philly’s defense and bench struggle

New York Times  

Sixers center Joel Embiid was asked a question after Monday night’s game, one based on the obvious pregame storyline: Did he feel like he proved anything by scoring 34 points against Nikola Jokic of the Nuggets on Monday night? James Harden on the Sixers’ porous transition defense: “We got to get our ass back on defense. It’s really hurt us… …

Matisse Thybulle leads smothering Sixers defense as Joel Embiid takes stock at midway point
3 years, 2 months ago

Matisse Thybulle leads smothering Sixers defense as Joel Embiid takes stock at midway point

New York Times  

After having their seven-game winning streak snapped a few days ago on their home floor, the Sixers responded well at home on Friday against an old nemesis. Thybulle leads old-school defensive performance Here are the Sixers’ rankings at the halfway point, per Cleaning the Glass: plus-2.9 net rating, 112.0 offensive rating, 109.2 defensive rating. We're gonna keep on going and …

Joel Embiid’s playmaking, Ben Simmons trade, Matisse Thybulle’s emergence: Sixers predictions for 2021-22
3 years, 5 months ago

Joel Embiid’s playmaking, Ben Simmons trade, Matisse Thybulle’s emergence: Sixers predictions for 2021-22

New York Times  

So much still feels unsettled for the Sixers, but a new NBA season is officially upon us. — Bodner Matisse Thybulle becomes an even more crucial player Heading into last season, we had some questions about Thybulle’s fit in the 10-man rotation. The concern would be that Drummond looks just good enough in the regular season that the Sixers haven’t …

Ben Simmons and Sixers at odds again: What’s been going on at practices and what’s next for both sides
3 years, 5 months ago

Ben Simmons and Sixers at odds again: What’s been going on at practices and what’s next for both sides

New York Times  

Consecutive days of Ben Simmons being present but mentally and physically checked out culminated in the Philadelphia 76ers’ All-Star being thrown out of Tuesday’s practice and suspended for one game. People present at the scene say Simmons has simply come and gone inside the 76ers’ Camden, N.J., facility since returning to practice Sunday. He had yet to be placed into …

Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris return as Sixers bounce back in 125-113 preseason win
3 years, 5 months ago

Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris return as Sixers bounce back in 125-113 preseason win

New York Times  

The Sixers kicked off preseason play Monday in Toronto, falling to the Raptors 123-107 in a game that had few positives on display for Doc Rivers and his club, other than the fact that basketball was back in our lives. After the game, Rivers said the change in the starting lineup was “just looking at different guys,” and would go …

As Ben Simmons holds out, the Sixers still hold out hope: ‘We expect him to be a 76er’
3 years, 5 months ago

As Ben Simmons holds out, the Sixers still hold out hope: ‘We expect him to be a 76er’

New York Times  

CAMDEN, N.J. — As the storyline of Ben Simmons’ basketball future continued to drag on throughout the summer, the prospect of the Sixers asking Simmons back to training camp increasingly came more into focus. But we have a lot of optimism that we can make it work here.” Morey said Simmons’ representation at Klutch Sports requested a trade at the …

Hollinger: With NBA free agency party ending quickly, the trading game begins
3 years, 7 months ago

Hollinger: With NBA free agency party ending quickly, the trading game begins

New York Times  

And now, we wait. Amazingly, every one of my top 20 free agents is already accounted for next season; while the Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard technically hasn’t announced what he’s doing yet, his return seems a foregone conclusion. Beyond that crew, we’ll see some other players get minimum deals and biannual exception money, but the free-agent spending frenzy essentially ended once …

Sixers, Embiid inch closer to locking up No. 1 seed with 135-115 rout of Rockets
3 years, 10 months ago

Sixers, Embiid inch closer to locking up No. 1 seed with 135-115 rout of Rockets

New York Times  

Sixers games at this time of the year have three main objectives: get the win and move closer to securing the East’s top seed, stay injury-free and keep the minute totals for key starters to a reasonable level so everyone is fresh for a playoff run. What is more interesting is how well Embiid consistently handled Houston’s frequent double-teams, with …

AP Interview: Morey embraces challenges of leading 76ers
4 years ago

AP Interview: Morey embraces challenges of leading 76ers

Associated Press  

PHILADELPHIA — Like any top NBA executive this time of the season, Daryl Morey is trying to better his roster. “It allows me to just focus on my job, which is try and get better players for him.” The NBA trade deadline is March 25 and that means rumors and fantasy deals are at the forefront in Philly — the …

Joel Embiid injury fallout: Sixers’ chances, MVP race, trade possibilities and more
4 years ago

Joel Embiid injury fallout: Sixers’ chances, MVP race, trade possibilities and more

New York Times  

On Saturday, an MRI on Joel Embiid’s left knee revealed a bone bruise with no structural damage, a source confirmed to The Athletic. Impact on the Sixers’ season A two-week absence would take the Sixers up until March 27 and would mean Embiid would miss eight games. That doesn’t necessarily mean the Sixers are doomed over the next few weeks, …

Sixers’ role players step up without Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons in win over Bulls
4 years ago

Sixers’ role players step up without Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons in win over Bulls

New York Times  

The Sixers were without Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid on Thursday night, the result of the NBA’s health and safety protocols after being in close proximity to an individual who tested positive for COVID-19. Though that last sentence was obviously not serious, Bradley and Howard combined for 32 points, 17 rebounds and five blocked shots to help the Sixers kick …

Bodner: The numbers back up sending Al Horford to the Sixers’ bench
5 years, 1 month ago

Bodner: The numbers back up sending Al Horford to the Sixers’ bench

New York Times  

On Tuesday, the Sixers signaled a significant change by sending Al Horford to the bench for Furkan Korkmaz. The one saving grace is that the offensive rating “jumps” to 105.6 points per 100 possessions when Richardson joins Embiid, Simmons, Horford and Harris. There are three major changes driving the team’s offensive improvement when Embiid and Simmons are on the court …

NBA Free Agency: Al Horford joins Philadelphia 76ers from Boston Celtics while forward Tobias Harris rejoins team
5 years, 8 months ago

NBA Free Agency: Al Horford joins Philadelphia 76ers from Boston Celtics while forward Tobias Harris rejoins team

Firstpost  

Five-time NBA All-Star center Al Horford signed with the Philadelphia 76ers as forward Tobias Harris rejoined the team on Wednesday to complete deals that were revealed last week New York: Five-time NBA All-Star center Al Horford signed with the Philadelphia 76ers as forward Tobias Harris rejoined the team on Wednesday to complete deals that were revealed last week. The moves …

The rewind: In Game 1, Raptors give the Sixers a ‘reality stick’ in Toronto
5 years, 10 months ago

The rewind: In Game 1, Raptors give the Sixers a ‘reality stick’ in Toronto

New York Times  

TORONTO — In all fairness to Tobias Harris, it really did appear that there was a path to the basket. Just like in their first-round series, the Sixers were handed what Brett Brown called “a reality stick.” “You go back to the drawing board, figure it out, come practice tomorrow, come to the film session, we’ll talk about what we …

Sixers Likes and Dislikes: Robert Covington's defense, Ben Simmons' finishing and brief glimpses from Markelle Fultz
6 years, 4 months ago

Sixers Likes and Dislikes: Robert Covington's defense, Ben Simmons' finishing and brief glimpses from Markelle Fultz

New York Times  

Through the early part of the Sixers season a number of trends have started to pop up, from the team’s struggles to get on the same page with its switch-heavy scheme — leading to unexpected struggles on that end of the court — to dominance from Joel Embiid and our first glimpses of Markelle Fultz’s return to action. We return …

Early on, the Sixers are struggling to adjust to their new defensive schemes
6 years, 5 months ago

Early on, the Sixers are struggling to adjust to their new defensive schemes

New York Times  

Switch-heavy defenses are all the rage in today’s NBA. But I feel like, to get where we want to go, you’re gonna have to do that.” Brown’s forecast of “experiencing some pain” has certainly come true. One of the Sixers’ bigger areas of focus, it seems, is mastering the “kickout” or “scram” switch — a second switch, that tries to …

Sixers Stat of the Week: Defensive struggles driving early season disappointment
6 years, 5 months ago

Sixers Stat of the Week: Defensive struggles driving early season disappointment

New York Times  

Last year we tested out a column called “Sixers Stat of the Week,” where we took one high-level stat and tried to look into some of the underlying components that were causing it. That’s a pretty drastic increase from the 103.8 defensive rating the team had last year, which was good for third best in the league during the Sixers’ …

Season preview: Jonah Bolden enters the fold as the Sixers’ latest Australian import
6 years, 6 months ago

Season preview: Jonah Bolden enters the fold as the Sixers’ latest Australian import

New York Times  

Last month, Jonah Bolden was acclimating himself to his new surroundings, finishing up an individual workout and lifting session at the Sixers’ practice facility, when he received a surprise. Waiting for him was one of his new teammates, someone who Bolden describes as “a different animal.” “Then I see Joel out there and then they’re like, ‘Alright, you guys are …

The LeBron meeting, and other Sixers leftovers from Josh Harris and Brett Brown’s summer league update
6 years, 8 months ago

The LeBron meeting, and other Sixers leftovers from Josh Harris and Brett Brown’s summer league update

New York Times  

LAS VEGAS — Over the past 24 hours, we have touched on two of the larger subjects addressed by Josh Harris and Brett Brown during their impromptu roundtable at the NBA summer league — that would be the complicated general manager search and how the star hunting will continue, perhaps with Kawhi Leonard — but you know, they talked about …

What we learned about the Sixers in the Celtics series, and how it should impact their offseason
6 years, 10 months ago

What we learned about the Sixers in the Celtics series, and how it should impact their offseason

New York Times  

Following the Game 3 loss to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Brett Brown gave a candid admission about the dire situation that his team found itself in. Against a Boston team that’s chock-full of two-way players, there was suddenly nowhere to hide the Sixers’ one-trick ponies — the Celtics don’t offer any hiding spots on offense, and …

Sixers Stat of the Week: The starting lineup, Joel Embiid, and the turnover epidemic
7 years ago

Sixers Stat of the Week: The starting lineup, Joel Embiid, and the turnover epidemic

New York Times  

We’re going to start a new, regular column here at The Athletic Philadelphia called “Sixers Stat of the Week,” where we’ll start off with one statistic, then drill down to all the factors that play into that number. The above Stat of the Week, a 14.4 percent turnover rate, is from the starting lineup, which is a downright normal rate …

Who is the Sixers' best option to defend elite guards - Covington or Simmons?
7 years ago

Who is the Sixers' best option to defend elite guards - Covington or Simmons?

New York Times  

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the dominance of the Sixers’ starting lineup is the constant shape-shifting of roles that each player has had to experience. Much in the same way, the Sixers take on a constantly changing set of unnatural roles on defense — in a lineup with one player listed under 6-foot-9, the matchup combinations aren’t always clear. …

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