Two sentences from Daryl Morey, spoken in October, before the first game of the regular season, allow us to remember the very positive and ambitious atmosphere which surrounded the Philadelphia franchise. The president of the Sixers had succeeded in a gala offseason, smoothly conducted, and was pleased with it.
“It was definitely risky yes, but it was the best plan. A risky bet is not necessarily a bad bet. It can also be the best and it obviously was”was his observation. He then added that his team “is one of the few teams that are at the top. I think Boston deserves to be the favorite, but we have a chance this year to be with them and be able to beat them.”.
You have to remember that at that time, which seems a long time ago now, the Sixers signed Paul George, Caleb Martin, Andre Drummond, Eric Gordon, Guerschon Yabusele and Reggie Jackson. Kyle Lowry and Kelly Oubre Jr. returned, while Tyrese Maxey was rewarded for his patience, extending for $204 million. Joel Embiid, finally, also extended his contract, after winning an Olympic gold medal in Paris.
On paper, the summer was perfect. Except that it didn't translate onto the field, far from it. It's even hell with a penultimate place in the Eastern Conference: 3 victories for 14 defeats!
An anonymous person close to the team, cited by ESPNsums up very well the failed start to the season in Philadelphia: “Except for Jared McCain, everything that could go wrong has gone wrong”…
Delay in ignition for Joel Embiid and Paul George
So what happened to explain such a slippage? The extension of Joel Embiid in September pretty much sums up the failed bet at the start of the season. Finally, what precedes the signing of the 2023 MVP. The Philadelphia franchise offered three more years and $192.7 million to its pivot, not without wanting to reassure his physical condition but without establishing safeguards like the Pelicans with Zion Williamson, whose contract is not guaranteed.
Regularly injured and never in full possession of his means in the playoffs year after year, the Sixers consulted, ESPN tells us, half a dozen doctors before this extension. Each time, the feedback was positive: with care and a rest strategy – announced before the season and sanctioned by the NBA – Joel Embiid's knee problems could be managed correctly and effectively.
The two camps were therefore able to seal their marriage for three additional seasons, hoping that its worries would be history by the start of the season. What followed showed that, no, the pivot, after his Olympic adventure, could not be in gear for the first battles. Without forgetting his suspension for three matches, following his altercation with a journalist.
At the same time, in preseason, Paul George hurt his left knee and this simple bone contusion will deprive him of the first five games of the season. We will therefore have to wait until the 10th match to see the two All-Stars together in the same jersey, against New York. The Sixers were then at 2 victories in 9 matches. False start therefore, and not made up for by the presence of the duo since the two men will experience three defeats in a row before the former Clippers relapses and the Cameroonian's knee squeaks again…
A crisis within a crisis
This bad news is not the worst of this November streak. Because between the return of the stars and their future absence, there was a crisis meeting after a setback against Miami.
A logical decision since, that evening, the Sixers were last in the league! This should have remained simple information but Shams Charania and ESPN will give details and in particular one: Tyrese Maxey criticized Joel Embiid for his various and regular delays, which would end up weighing on the group.
This first domino will bring down a second, much bigger one, with the reaction of the 2023 MVP. The latter did not appreciate, but really not, seeing the discussions of this crisis meeting in the locker room being exposed in the press . “ Whoever leaked this is a piece of shit », he clearly blurted out. “ We talked about a lot of things. I don't want to go into details, but this whole story probably lasted 30 seconds. But then again, it's Joel Embiid, so we have to make everything exaggerated “, he continues.
After this crisis meeting, which therefore generated a new media crisis, the Sixers did not raise their heads, despite the return from injury of Tyrese Maxey, with three defeats in four matches. Nick Nurse is not in danger, we assure you, but, as we know, it's never a good sign when you have to reassure about the future of a coach…
What hopes for the future?
We only talk about extra-sporting problems, with absences and crises, but on the field, there are obviously big problems. Particularly in attack, where there are many problems. There is the 3-point address, catastrophic (31.8%), the second worst in the league. But also a general awkwardness in hot times.
Without neglecting the worst assist average as well (21.4). To put it more clearly, if it's still necessary: Nick Nurse's men are the third worst offense in the league. And as in defense, it's pretty average (18th), with an inability to block rebounds, that can't save the furniture at the moment.
Difficult in the face of such a summary and such a weak record, that only the Wizards in the East, with 13 defeats in a row, manage to “surpass”, to be truly optimistic. However, the regular season only started a month ago and Philadelphia, fortunately, is not in the West of the country. The Eastern Conference is not moving at the same pace and the Bucks proved it recently. They too had a completely failed start and with seven victories in eight matches, including five in a row, they are back in the first part of the table. A few consistent successes and the Sixers will quickly leave the slums of the East.
How to achieve these victories? Obviously banking on the return of injuries. A Joel Embiid – Paul George – Tyrese Maxey trio has too much talent and firepower not to solve a large part of the team's offensive problems. Especially since there was some good news in the midst of this slump. Jared McCain already, who sees himself as the Rookie of the year, and who is not completely wrong with his 16.5 points average. But also Guerschon Yabusele, whose return to the NBA is very positive. The Frenchman has the confidence of his coach and shines in this joker role off the bench, with 9.9 points (43.5% 3-point success) and 5.5 rebounds per game.
