The Sixers are 20 games into the season, sitting at 11-9, and if there’s one word that continues to define this team, it’s uncertainty. Whether it’s the health of their stars, the chemistry of a newly constructed roster, or just the nightly consistency, the Sixers remain one of the league’s biggest question marks.
But despite all that flux, the national power rankings this week tell a rare story of consensus: NBA.com, ESPN, and The Athletic all have Philadelphia slotted at No. 17.
Let’s unpack what that means and why the Sixers are still searching for their rhythm.
A Glimpse of the Big Three - But Just a Glimpse
Sunday’s double-overtime loss to the Atlanta Hawks was dramatic for a lot of reasons, but perhaps the most important takeaway was that it marked the first time all season that Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey shared the court.
That trio logged just over 19 minutes together. The Sixers did outscore Atlanta by a point during that stretch, but the offense wasn’t exactly humming - just 50 points on 48 possessions.
That’s not the kind of efficiency you’d hope for from a group with that much offensive talent. George and Embiid both played into the first overtime, but neither was available for the second, underscoring the ongoing challenge of managing health and workload.
The Sixers have been saying it for over a year now: it’s not just about getting bodies back. It’s about building continuity.
These aren’t just names on a depth chart - they need time to mesh, to understand each other’s tendencies, and to develop the kind of on-court chemistry that separates good teams from great ones. So far, that process is still in its early stages.
The Joel Embiid Question (Again)
Embiid’s health continues to be the pivot point for everything Philly wants to accomplish. He returned Sunday after missing nine games with knee issues, logging a season-high 30 minutes. Then, just two days later, he was back on the injury report - ruled out for Tuesday’s game against the Wizards.
The team’s day-to-day designation for Embiid has become a familiar refrain, and it’s clear that managing his workload is going to be a season-long balancing act. That balancing act, however, came with consequences this week.
The NBA fined the Sixers $100,000 for violating injury reporting rules, citing the confusion around Embiid’s sudden availability for the Hawks game. It’s a reminder that even off the court, the Sixers are still walking a tightrope.
VJ Edgecombe: Early Spark, Rookie Wall
One of the few bright spots in the early season has been rookie guard VJ Edgecombe. The No. 3 overall pick came out of the gates hot - a 34-point debut in Boston, followed by a 26-point showing against Orlando. Those performances helped the Sixers jump out to a 4-0 start and had Edgecombe looking like a legitimate Rookie of the Year contender.
But November told a different story. Edgecombe cooled off, recording just one 20-point game all month and dealing with a calf injury that sidelined him briefly. Still, he’s back now and continuing to play a key role next to Maxey in the backcourt.
And even when the scoring dips, Edgecombe’s impact hasn’t gone unnoticed. Maxey praised his rookie teammate after Tuesday’s win, highlighting the hustle, defensive intensity, rebounding, and passing that Edgecombe brings to the floor - the kind of “glue guy” traits that don’t always show up in the box score but matter just as much.
“He’s playing so hard,” Maxey said. “And what he brings defensively and even just the offensive rebounding and passing, he’s just good at all of those little things that don’t always show up.
And he can score the ball, he can do all those different things as well, too. So it’s just good to have him.”
The Verdict: A Team in Limbo
Three outlets, one ranking: 17th. That feels about right for a team that hasn’t quite figured itself out yet.
The Sixers have shown flashes - dominant wins, promising stretches from young players, and brief glimpses of what a healthy Big Three might look like. But those moments have been fleeting, and the road ahead is still filled with questions.
Can Embiid stay on the floor consistently enough to anchor this team? Can George find his role alongside two ball-dominant guards?
Can Maxey take another leap as a playmaker? And can Edgecombe keep growing through the rookie bumps?
There’s plenty of season left, and the Sixers have the talent to climb. But for now, they’re stuck in the middle - a team with potential, waiting for the pieces to finally click.