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The Philadelphia 76ers have gotten off to a rough 0-3 start this season. Their latest loss came against the rebuilding San Antonio Spurs at home. The Sixers entered this season with championship aspirations, but their poor start has left fans and critics questioning their mettle.
The first two games were against heavyweights like the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks, so those defeats didn't raise many eyebrows. However, the Spurs are projected to be a lottery team. Losing to them at home and at full strength brought the critics alive.
Joel Embiid struggled in the first two games but returned to form against the Spurs, scoring 40 points on 14-of-25 shooting. However, his co-star James Harden had the opposite fate. After dropping 30+ points in his previous two outings, "The Beard" could contribute only 12 points on a 4-of-18 shooting against San Antonio.
The Philadelphia 76ers got ahead by six points at the end of the first quarter but were outperformed by Greg Popovic's team throughout the rest of the game. NBA Twitter didn't miss the opportunity to mock the 76ers for their surprising 0-3 start.
One fan wrote:
"James Harden thinking about bringing back the fat suit if the Sixers continue losing"
Another added:
"You know Ben Simmons is itching to tweet something about the winless 0-3 Sixers lol"
Here are some more reactions:
Doc Rivers believes Philadelphia 76ers are not ready to win yet
Philadelphia 76ers coach Doc Rivers had a simple answer about the team's woeful start following their loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Rivers believes the new-look Sixers aren't "ready to win yet."
James Harden is entering the season healthy. His style of play has been different thus far, something Joel Embiid and the rest of the players may have to adjust to as the season progresses. Unlike last season, Harden has looked aggressive in his scoring approach. Hence, he may not be able to facilitate plays consistently.
The Philadelphia 76ers need to improve their overall play on offense and get everyone involved. The ball movement hasn't been there to create better scoring opportunities. They tend to rely on Embiid and Harden to score on isolation plays, which hasn't proved to be a successful ingredient in their first three games of the season.
Nevertheless, considering the talent at their disposal, the Sixers will likely resolve their woes offensively. However, their defense may need a lot of work. The Sixers just haven't looked sharp with their defensive schemes. Across their first three games, the Sixers have allowed their opponents to score 48% from the field and 35% from 3-point range.
The Philadelphia 76ers still have a long road ahead, so facing these issues now is ideal for them to find solutions and get back on track. They still boast one of the deepest and most versatile rosters. Even if their 0-3 start seems alarming, it wouldn't be a surprise to see them bounce back.
