3 Glaring Concerns 76ers Must Address After Ugly Cavaliers Loss

There has to be something said about a Philadelphia 76ers team that continues to get off to a sluggish start and having to fight back into the game. 

Well, it happened again against the Cavaliers. There are so many things to unpack throughout this game, and some of it may seem a bit repetitive. This team is so talented, and yet they succumb to a tale as old as time: complacency. There’s no need for a full synopsis on this one; let’s just grasp what many witnessed. There were three huge concerns in this game that have to be resolved.

1. The sluggish starts are getting old and fast.

In nearly every game that this team has played this season, it seems that they are incapable of putting together a complete game. They either start off hot offensively and lose their momentum, or they get punched in the face and have to figure out a way back into the game. They've done this twice with the Cavaliers and have had a deficit of over 15. 

2. Joel Embiid is not himself.

Embiid has had some very up and down games so far this season. One night he can go for 20 points and 11 rebounds, and then on nights like the one Friday night, he struggles to get anything going and goes 0 for 9 from the field. That can’t happen if this team has any chance of winning an NBA title. Embiid has to start putting his back to the basket, more capitalizing on his matchup. Embiid is averaging around 20 points, but they are going to need more from him. 

3. Defense can’t save a poor offense.

It’s hard to explain this one, but to put it simply, the 76ers relied too heavily on their defensive ability to get them a victory. This team is ranked top five in defense, and yet they're in the bottom half offensively. In most of their games this season, it's been the defense that has put them back into games they should have lost. On this night, they needed the offense to show up. Everyone played down to their potential, and this team was constructed to outscore any opponent they face. The same goes for the bench, who have the lowest scoring average in the NBA.

The 76ers are much better than they played against the Cleveland Cavaliers. This game has to be a wake-up call that they need to reassess what this team can do and learn that not every game is going to be won from transitional offense and defense. They are going to have to figure out how to play true basketball in their halfcourt offense.