One NBA Writer gives the Philadelphia 76ers a strong grade for their starting five.
The Philadelphia 76ers are searching for consistency as they make a push towards the postseason.
The team has played well coming out of the All-Star break, finding ways to win, especially with Joel Embiid back in the lineup. One analyst has been impressed with what he has seen from the Sixers' starting lineup.
In Bleacher Report's report card grades for every starting lineup, NBA writer Grant Hughes gives the 76ers' starting five of Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, Kelly Oubre Jr., Dominick Barlow, and Joel Embiid an A.
"Embiid's shin injury didn't wreck his season, so he gets the nod here despite Andre Drummond seeing plenty of time as the starting center this month. Any real assessment of the Philadelphia 76ers should probably include the former MVP, who remains a potent scoring force whenever healthy," Hughes wrote.
He adds, "That said, the Sixers are Maxey's team in a couple of important senses. He's the most reliable player on the roster, leads the league in minutes per game, and is a virtual lock to secure his first All-NBA nod. Next to him, Edgecombe has outperformed expectations for a rookie, while the Oubre-Barlow combination brings more than enough athletic juice to offset the absence of a suspended Paul George."
Hughes revealed that the Sixers' "five-man crew is a plus-12.4 over nearly 300 possessions, significantly better than the lineup featuring George in Oubre's spot."
The 76ers' starting lineup, which, when healthy, consists of Maxey and Edgecombe in the backcourt alongside Oubre, George, and Embiid, has shown strong chemistry when on the floor. However, health has been a major question for the 76ers this season.
Embiid has appeared in a total of 33 games this season, while George has missed time this season recovering from a knee injury that forced him to miss most of the 2024-2025 season. He is also serving a 25-game suspension.
If the 76ers are going to make a postseason push, they will need every member of the starting lineup available producing at a high level.
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Elijah Hamilton is a contributing writer to 76ersRoundtable.