Following a 124-104 loss to the Boston Celtics, the Philadelphia 76ers hold the longest losing streak in the NBA with six consecutive losses. The team has been dismantled with injuries this season, but they were beaten soundly even with their stars healthy after the All-Star break. The team is now 15 games below .500, and in the second half of the season, time is running out to make a playoff push. The Philadelphia 76ers are two spots out of the play-in, and this losing streak is convincing many that their season is beyond saving.
Joel Embiid and Paul George’s Struggles
One of the biggest problems with the Philadelphia 76ers season has been the health of Joel Embiid. Embiid has only played in 18 games this season, and when he has played, he has not looked like his former self. In the loss to the Celtics, Embiid scored 15 points and shot a rough 33% from the field. Nine of his points came at the free throw line, which is an issue many have with Embiid’s playstyle. At his best, Embiid is an elite post-scorer who can draw fouls, but now, he is mostly doing the latter. Against the Celtics, he fell to the floor multiple times to try and get calls, to the annoyance of many.
At his peak, Embiid is one of the best scorers in the NBA. But this season, especially in this recent stretch, his built-up injuries have made him passive. In another loss to the Toronto Raptors, Embiid passed on a potential game-winning three, only to turn the ball over. It reminded many Philadelphia 76ers fans of the days of Ben Simmons. This has led to more of his scoring coming from free throws, and his constant falling can be dangerous to himself and other players.
Along with Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers biggest offseason addition, Paul George, has been injured as well. George was meant to be the piece to push the team over the hump, but instead, he has been extremely underwhelming. He’s played in 36 games this season, averaging 16.2 points. But in their last ten games, George is averaging only 11.3 points per game. During their losing streak, he hasn’t eclipsed 20 points once.
The Philadelphia 76ers Direction
The Philadelphia 76ers hold a 20-35 record and are tied with the Brooklyn Nets for the 11th seed. They are still only a few games back from the play-in field, but this losing streak is not encouraging. The 76ers were expected to be a top team in the Eastern Conference and are scrapping for the play-in. Many have advocated for shutting down Embiid and George for the season to try and land a better draft pick. It would prevent their star players from worsening their injuries, and the team needs a high draft pick.
Their first-round pick belongs to the Oklahoma City Thunder as part of the Al Horford trade from years ago. The pick is top six protected, so if the Philadelphia 76ers pick in the top six, they own the pick. If not, the Thunder will gain control of the pick and add another talented young player to their contending roster full of them. So, the 76ers either need to make the playoffs to avoid giving the Thunder a lottery pick or tank for the top six.
Final Thoughts
This six-game losing streak has put the Philadelphia 76ers in a tough spot. Embiid and George have been unhealthy and underwhelming, and the team has struggled. Now, they are left to make the choice of pushing for a playoff spot in the final 27 games or rest their stars and hope for a high draft pick.
