One B/R Writer describes the 76ers season in one word based on on everything we've seen this season
The Philadelphia 76ers are fighting to keep their postseason hopes alive as the regular season winds down.
The team is currently riding high following their win over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, improving to 34-28. However, the Sixers remain focused on avoiding the NBA Play-In Tournament and keeping their momentum throughout the final weeks of the regular season.
So far, this season has been a mixed bag for Philadelphia. While the team has shown moments of brilliance, they have struggled with injuries to notable stars and with inconsistency throughout the season. As a result, they have yet to hit their stride.
Bleacher Report writer Zach Buckley described the 76ers' season in one word: decelerating.
"The Sixers have, at times, sent highly encouraging messages about just what they can do when they're at full strength. The problem is they aren't particularly close to that at the moment," Buckley wrote.
"Paul George is suspended, Joel Embiid is back on the injury report, and there's worry of some resulting fatigue factor for the NBA's minutes leader, Tyrese Maxey, who's shooting just 41 percent overall and 35 percent from the perimeter since the All-Star break," Buckley wrote.
Buckley continued to point out the 76ers' recent struggles: "Philly has dropped six of its last 10 games, and five of those defeats were of the humbling double-digit variety. This doesn't have to be a season-defining stretch, obviously, but you always worry about wobbly legs when major absences increase the burden on everyone else."
With the NBA Playoffs right around the corner, the 76ers will have to use the final weeks of the regular season to find a way to make a statement to the rest of the league.
Of course, they'll have to show if they can stay healthy during that stretch. Embiid is currently out due to a right oblique injury, while Paul George is serving a 25-game suspension. The 76ers' depth will be crucial. If they can stay healthy and regain their rhythm, it would be hard to count them out in the playoffs.
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Elijah Hamilton is a contributing writer to 76ersRoundtable.