76ers Have a Serious Problem Their Hot Start Can't Hide Forever

There has been such a buzz surrounding the Philadelphia 76ers as they have taken the NBA by storm, being tied for first in the Eastern Conference. But the real question is, can this last? 

It’s been so much to unpack from this team. They have so much talent that it’s hard to contain. Their biggest issue is getting everyone on track for a full 48 minutes. Look no further than their three losses. The 76ers were outmatched. No matter how hard they fought, it just didn’t seem like they could get over the hump. What made matters worse is the fact that each time, it was because they played down to their opponent.

Let’s start with the Detroit Pistons; in their loss, they struggled to rebound the ball, a trend that came back to haunt them against a division rival. In that game, their center position had a rough day at the office. This was the first game that saw the absence of Joel Embiid. That left a huge hole, but that wasn’t the reason for this loss. Instead, it fell upon the lack of rebounding. That’s not something that falls distinctly on Embiid.

It’s clear that this is just going to be the problem for the team this season, and it reared its ugly head against the Cleveland Cavaliers. This game was another blowout, and it followed the same pattern. The second and maybe biggest issue is that this team can’t get off the ground to start the game; that’s the reason they suffered their third loss of the season. In fact, it was very reminiscent of their loss to the Pistons. 

Philadelphia has multiple concerns with their team, and it’s why they’ve lost to teams with elite defenses. The only player who the defense can’t stop is Tyrese Maxey. All the other stars are nullified. A huge part of that is just the way this team and certain players have to play. Jaylen Brown and LeBron James, for as good as they are, have to get their own shot off themselves. Even if James isn’t the offensive player he once was, he’s been seen blowing easy layups, and it's hurting the team.

Embiid just looks out of place at times, and that may be the biggest issue more than anything else. He’s standing outside the paint taking long two's, and it just isn't conducive to the offense. Throw in the lowest-scoring bench in the league and it just seems like every area that was supposed to be a strength is a weakness. 

All of this is making a murky picture very clear. This 76ers team may have more faulty leaks that can’t be patched up.