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The Philadelphia 76ers have struggled to start their 2022-23 campaign. NBA analyst Tim Bontemps criticized the Sixers for their performances so far.
Starting the season with a 2-4 record is shocking, to say the least. They are considered one of the better teams in the East that could reach the NBA Finals.
Bontemps ripped into the 76ers for how poorly they have played so far. He highlighted the beatdown from the San Antonio Spurs and how terrible they were in transition defense. On "The Hoop Collective," he said:
"This has been an unmitigated disaster. Everybody wants to talk about how bad the Nets and the Lakers are and have looked. Those teams were gonna be bad. Anybody who was rational looking at them knew those teams weren't going to be very good.
"The Sixers team was supposed to be a great team. Had added P.J. Tucker to a mix with Tyrese Maxey, James Harden in the backcourt with Tobias Harris, Joel Embiid in the frontcourt. They boosted depth on the bench getting De'Anthony Melton and Danuel house."
He added:
"They add Montrezl Harrell, who should have been a good regular-season player for them. It seemed like this was a team that was set up to win a whole ton of regular-season games."
It is surprising how poorly they have started with a fully healthy and well-rested roster. James Harden came into the season confident about the Sixers' chances and said he could have an MVP-caliber year.
Latest addition to 76ers roster
The Sixers were one of the biggest winners during free agency. They identified their pressing needs and brought in players who could help fix them.
Their most noteworthy acquisition was P.J. Tucker. In the last two years, the forward has been on teams who contested for the title. Although he was not a high-level scorer, he played a key role in the Milwaukee Bucks' 2021 championship run.
To improve squad depth, the Sixers acquired players like Montrezl Harrell, Danuel House and De'Anthony Melton. Harrell has won the Sixth Man of the Year award in the past, which shows how impactful he could be coming off the bench.
Even with these additions, the 76ers have not played their best brand of basketball. Perhaps the team needs a bit more time to understand each other, especially with the new additions.
Doc Rivers’ coaching job in jeopardy
Chatter about Doc Rivers' job started following the Sixers' dreadful start. NBA analyst Zach Lowe reported that the experienced coach could lose his job if they continue on a downward trajectory. It was reported that Rivers could be the first coach to lose his job this season.
A win Friday night against the Raptors has kept the coach afloat for a while longer. If things continue to go sideways, there is a chance he will be relieved of his duties.
Rivers has been with the Sixers since the 2020-21 season but has never led the team past the conference semifinals. Last year, they lost to the Miami Heat 4-2 and endured a shocking Game 7 defeat in 2021 against the Atlanta Hawks.
