The 76ers have raced out to a 6-1 start and sit atop the Eastern Conference, but there’s a glaring number hanging over that record: they’ve been one of the league’s worst teams on wide-open threes.
Through seven games, Philadelphia has connected on just 29.9 percent of those looks, which ranks fifth-worst in the NBA. That’s a rough stretch for a team that was already flagged as a possible outside-shooting concern before the season even tipped off, especially after looking ice cold from three during the preseason as well.
What makes the start so interesting is that the offense has been ordinary overall. The 76ers are only 23rd in offensive rating, so the wins haven’t come from overwhelming teams on that end.
They’ve been carried instead by a fourth-ranked defense, and that has been enough to keep them winning close games. Five of their seven contests have gone to crunch time, and Philadelphia has won all five.
There’s also a little irony in how the last two victories came together. Both were decided by late threes from VJ Edgecombe, even as the team has struggled to cash in on cleaner looks from deep. That contrast is a big reason the current slump feels more like a temporary blip than a lasting problem.
The bigger picture is simple: the 76ers have several players shooting well below league average from beyond the arc right now, including Edgecombe, Dean Wade, LeBron James, and Joel Embiid. If those numbers move back toward normal, Philadelphia’s offense should look a lot better than it does now.
For the moment, the 76ers are good enough everywhere else to cover for the missed shots. But if the wide-open threes start falling, this team could get even tougher to deal with.
In Other News...
76ers Suddenly Have A Center Question Fans Will Want Answered
Jabari Walkers return gave the 76ers a useful jolt against the Hornets, as he worked his way back from a knee issue and logged 19 minutes while finishing with 12 points and six rebounds. With Joel Embiid out, Adem Bona got the start at center and Philadelphia pieced together its frontcourt rotation around the absences, a setup that made every available big man matter a little more than usual.
One name still stood out for what did not happen: Tacko Fall was cleared to play, but he never got into the game. In a matchup where the Sixers were already sorting through center options on the fly, that left a lingering question about how the team plans to use its depth at the position moving forward, especially if the injury situation keeps forcing the rotation to shift. [Read more 🡒]
Joel Embiid Is Creating One Sixers Concern During This Hot Start
Joel Embiid has helped fuel Philadelphias 6-1 start by doing a little of everything, giving the Sixers the kind of early-season stability they were hoping for. Through six games, he has been productive as a scorer, rebounder and passer, and his willingness to keep the offense moving has fit neatly into a strong opening stretch for the team.
Still, there is a small concern tucked inside the hot start: the three-point shot has not come with the same efficiency. Embiid is taking more looks from deep, but he has been far more effective when he stays closer to the rim or works from the mid-range, where his size and touch can create cleaner offense. For a team already getting plenty from him, the next question is whether dialing back those long attempts could make him even more dangerous. [Read more 🡒]
Dean Wade Is Helping The Sixers But One Issue Still Looms
Dean Wade has given the 76ers useful minutes early in the season, especially on the defensive end and as a connective passer. For a team still sorting out its rotation, that kind of steady, low-maintenance play matters, particularly when he is on the floor enough to influence how the group functions on both ends.
The lingering concern is on the offensive side, where Wade has been far more selective than the Sixers would like. Philadelphia pushed him in training camp to be more willing as a shooter, but he has remained hesitant, and if that trend continues it could leave some of his value on the table and quietly cap what the team can get from him offensively. [Read more 🡒]