The Philadelphia 76ers have crossed the midway level that means it’s time to give out report playing cards.
So as to add some focus to the article, it will likely be damaged down into two components: offense and protection.
The evaluation can be based mostly on statistics, analytics, and a few visible evaluation.
Let’s leap proper into it.
76ers’ Offense Appears Potent
Frankly, it’s onerous to offer an correct evaluation of the 76ers up to now.
Every of their “Huge 3” has missed at the least 11 video games.
Joel Embiid, James Harden, Tyrese Maxey, and Tobias Harris have solely shared the courtroom for 12 video games collectively.
Which means the workforce has not had an prolonged likelihood to construct chemistry as an entire unit.
Even nonetheless, the workforce has managed to common the 15th most factors scored within the league.
That quantity seems to be higher whenever you get deeper into the weeds, as Philadelphia has the ninth-best offensive ranking and seventh-best adjusted offensive ranking.
The adjusted offensive ranking considers the energy of opposing defenses.
Most promising has been the continued growth of Harden and Embiid’s pick-and-roll recreation.
Embiid knocking this jumper down over and over has been an ideal counter to groups going with the drop in decide and roll. You possibly can see it is computerized between Harden/Embiid proper now. pic.twitter.com/1Sw9UZq3us
— Steve Jones Jr. (@stevejones20) January 18, 2023
Two-man lineups that includes Embiid and Harden submit an offensive ranking of 120.7.
Embiid has developed into one of the vital harmful roll males with Harden on the helm.
His 7.1 possessions per recreation as a roll-man laps the sector as does his 8.3 factors per recreation.
Persevering with to construct on this chemistry can be large come playoff time.
GRADE: B+
Protection Is a Work in Progress
Philadelphia’s protection seems to be good on paper however just isn’t as stout because the numbers recommend.
The 76ers permit the third-fewest factors per recreation and have the fifth-best defensive ranking.
They’re a top-10 workforce in defending the three ball and are forcing turnovers at a top-five charge (13.9%).
Nevertheless, watching the video games tells a special story.
Philly usually loses the rebounding battle and is porous in transition.
The Thunder abused the 76ers poor transition protection all night time lengthy. Simply such a gradual & sluggish workforce on a regular basis it appears. pic.twitter.com/jC48ByHMnW
— Coast 2 Coast (@Coast2CoastNBA) January 14, 2023
De’Anthony Melton, Tobias Harris, and PJ Tucker are the one high-minute gamers who can constantly play high-level perimeter protection.
Lineups that includes each Harden and Maxey have bother stopping the ball on the level of assault.
Two-man lineups that includes Harden and Maxey have a comparatively respectable 111.2 defensive ranking, however Embiid accounts for many of that ranking.
A completely engaged Joel Embiid can masks many defensive shortcomings alongside the perimeter.
However the protection can get sloppy if Embiid checks out, actually or figuratively.
The 76ers have issues to work on defensively over the second half.
However they deserve credit score for having the third-stingiest protection up to now.
GRADE: B
