The Philadelphia 76ers were officially eliminated from playoff contention after a 118-95 loss to the Miami Heat. They’ve lost seven consecutive games, marking a disappointing season. Philadelphia was expected to return to the postseason, but after a year full of injuries and underwhelming play, that will not be the case. Their star player and former MVP, Joel Embiid, has missed most of the season with injuries. Paul George was given a large contract last off-season but has underperformed and dealt with injuries. The Philadelphia 76ers have a 23-51 record and are anticipating the off-season.
A Disappointing Season
The Philadelphia 76ers’ season was rough from the start. Embiid was out, and the team started 1-7. Players like Tyrese Maxey stepped up their production. Their first-round draft pick, Jared McCain, looked impressive. But the team was not winning. Many thought bringing in a player like George would alleviate their struggles when Embiid missed time, but it did not. George averaged 16.2 points per game this season after averaging over 20 points for nearly ten seasons.
Many assumed the team would recover when Embiid returned, but it did not happen immediately. The Philadelphia 76ers were 4-14 entering December. However, the Philadelphia 76ers had a solid month in December. The big three finally began to play together, and they went 9-3. They even defeated the Boston Celtics on Christmas Day. Fans believed this was the turning point for the team and that they would begin to ascend the Eastern Conference standings. But that month was one of the only bright spots in their season.
McCain suffered a season-ending injury, and as the team continued to struggle, Embiid and George were eventually ruled out. With injuries all around, the Philadelphia 76ers began to slide down the standings after the little progress they’d made. Since the All-Star break, the team has been decimated, and it has shown. Now, they are on a seven-game losing streak and will miss the playoffs after making it for seven consecutive seasons.
The Philadelphia 76ers’ Future
The Philadelphia 76ers have multiple pathways going forward, but their biggest concern should be the upcoming NBA draft. The Oklahoma City Thunder owns Philadelphia’s first-round pick, but the pick is protected in the top six. So, if the 76ers pick in the top six, they will own the pick. The Thunder are already championship favorites with future picks from several franchises, so it would be best for Philadelphia to try and keep this pick with the playoffs officially off the table. If the season ended today, barring any draft lottery chaos, the Philadelphia 76ers would have the fifth overall pick.
Keeping that draft pick would be a silver lining to their disappointing season, but it would be a worst-case scenario if the pick went to the Thunder and they still missed the playoffs. Last off-season, the 76ers made moves to compete in the Eastern Conference, which did not work out. With a high draft pick and the return of injured players, they could retool and make another playoff push next season. But this season could also be a wake-up call that this core will not last and stay healthy long enough to compete for an NBA championship. Many tough decisions regarding the Philadelphia 76ers’ direction will need to be made.
Final Thoughts
Injuries and underwhelming performances doomed the Philadelphia 76ers’ season. Embiid rarely saw the floor, and George did not make the immediate impact fans thought he would. The team still has talent and solid role players, but key players haven’t stayed healthy, leaving their future in question.
