What Remains for the Sixers after the All-Star Break?
After an unexplainable first half of the season, the Sixers have a lot of unanswered questions to figure out before the postseason.
The road woes have been one of the most common issues surrounding this team.
Whether it is closing out games or simply controlling the ball, the Sixers have a lot to work on before the season ends.
The struggles on the road have put a huge dent in their record, which is currently 34-21. Out of those 34 wins, they have earned 25 of them at home. Also, out of their few road wins, only one has been over a team above .500, which was the Boston Celtics back in December.
The Sixers have a fairly easy schedule remaining, but they will have to travel to Milwaukee and L.A. Playing the Bucks, Clippers, and Lakers will be a big road test for the team and will show the world what is to be expected come postseason. That being said, 14 of the team’s remaining games will be in the Wells Fargo Center where they can hopefully hold on to their home dominance. With the exception of a few teams, being Houston, Toronto, and Brooklyn, they should be able to take care of business at home easily.
Another unanswered question that remains is the final roster for the postseason. Obviously, the starting five will remain unchanged, with the exception of Al Horford’s spot. Head coach Brett Brown has been trying out different options. Whether the consistent fifth starter is Matisse Thybulle, Furkan Korkmaz, or another player off the bench remains to be seen. It could be beneficial to allow Glenn Robinson III or Alec Burks to take that final position, as this would add some good shooting to the starting lineup. Playoffs are much different than the regular season, meaning the number of players who get good minutes.
In the regular season, most of the roster will play on any given night whereas, in the postseason, it is possible for only 7 or 8 players to touch the court.
This shows the importance of the structure of the starting lineup because there will only be a few other options off the bench to trust.
Shifting the focus to the players and not the coaching, there are some chemistry issues being talked about in the national media. Many NBA analysts and reporters have been specifically focused on the relationship between Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. Anyone who truly knows these two would never think in a million years that they wouldn’t get along on the court. Many think that Ben’s lack of shooting and Joel’s lack of ball control collide and cause the losses gained so far. This is a questionable take considering what they do positively for the team.
It is foolish to think that Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons will never win a championship together.
Both of these guys single-handedly brought championship hopes back to the city of Philadelphia, and it is too late to begin doubting them now.
Featured Image: NBC Sports Philly
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