Should the 76ers Be Worried After Celtics Defeat?

After a 7-1 start to the season, the Philadelphia 76ers have gone 1–2 in their last three games, showing signs of slowing down. Their latest defeat came against Eastern Conference rivals, the Boston Celtics, who won 123-101. Former Sixer Paul George led the Celtics with a game-high 36 points, while other notable contributors included Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard.

For Philly, Tyrese Maxey scored an extremely efficient 24 points, but he was the only one who showed up. All four other starters shot below 45% from the field and performed well below their usual standards. The Celtics managed to control the game on both ends of the floor, holding the lead throughout. Philly managed to fight its way back into the game in the third quarter, but a devastating 17-0 run from the C’s put the game out of reach.

 

Should the 76ers Be Worried?

In the last three games, Philadelphia has been blown out twice by Eastern Conference contenders, the Cavs and the Celtics. While it’s quite early to draw any major conclusions, there is some concern to be raised regarding their performance in this short stretch. Issues such as a lack of ball movement, defensive effort, and overall offensive execution have started to become more apparent. Even though two losses can just be summed up as a couple of bad shooting nights, or a little tough schedule stretch, it is worth analyzing the areas in which this team must improve, in order to compete.

The Highs and the Lows

There is no doubt that when everything is clicking, the 76ers are one of the best teams in basketball because of their offensive diversity. When shots are falling and everyone is getting involved, this team is incredibly difficult to stop. However, what happens on off nights when it seems that your team can’t buy a bucket?

At times, the ball movement on this team can become stagnant, with the offense relying too heavily on individual plays rather than creating opportunities through ball movement. Players seem more inclined to take matters into their own hands, leading to stretches of hero ball that make the offense predictable and easier to defend. When the shots aren’t falling, the lack of movement and creativity becomes even more noticeable.

The Age and Injury Concerns

Another notable concern for Philly is the age and injury history of two of its pillars. LeBron James is 41 years old and entering the 24th season of his career. While he can still contribute at a high level, which is a remarkable accomplishment in itself, he is showing signs of slowing down, both defensively, and more noticeably, on the offensive end.

For the first time in a while, he doesn’t seem as eager to look for his own shot, and he has been a bit careless with the ball, averaging career lows in points and field-goal attempts. Maybe this is a conscious decision from James in order to fit all of Philly’s stars into the offense, but it remains to be seen whether this approach will work over the course of a full season.

On the other hand, Joel Embiid’s health has been a recurring issue throughout his career, and the Sixers cannot afford to have him missing significant time if they want to compete at the highest level. Even when he is available, managing his workload and keeping him healthy throughout the season will be crucial. This concern is further amplified by the team’s lack of depth at the center position, an issue that fans should expect to see addressed before the trade deadline.

The Last Word

Ultimately, these concerns are not necessarily reasons to panic, especially this early in the season. However, they highlight some of the challenges Philadelphia will have to overcome if they want to remain among the league’s top contenders. The talent is certainly there. The Sixers will need to find consistency on both ends of the floor, keep their key players healthy, and make the necessary adjustments along the way. Their strong start has shown just how high this team’s ceiling can be, but the coming weeks will tell us a lot more about its true potential.

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