The 76ers have piled up wins early, but Tyrese Maxey is already sounding the alarm on a habit that can’t stick.
Philadelphia enters its matchup with the Chicago Bulls at 6-1 and sitting in pole position in the East. That record looks even better when you factor in how the wins have come: against quality opponents, and often after the Sixers dug themselves into early holes before closing strong in crunch time.
It’s been effective. It’s also been exhausting.
Maxey made that clear after the team’s latest comeback win over the Hornets, another game that came down to the wire. Asked about the victory, he said he does not want to do that and that he is tired of it.
And he has a point. The Sixers have gotten away with living dangerously, but that approach is asking for trouble if it keeps showing up.
The bigger issue is the way Philadelphia has started games. The schedule has been tough, so there’s some room for understanding there, but the road ahead does not get any softer. If the Sixers want to keep stacking wins, they need to stop putting themselves in rescue mode so often and start controlling games earlier.
That starts with the first quarter, where Philadelphia currently owns the third-worst net rating in the league. The team has struggled to find its rhythm right away, even though it has been excellent in the fourth quarter, ranking second-best in net rating in the final frame. The problem is obvious: leaning on late comebacks night after night is a dangerous way to live.
This roster also isn’t built like a track team. Yes, there are younger pieces like VJ Edgecombe and Maxey in the starting group, but the Sixers can’t keep spending energy digging out of deficits. That kind of grind adds up, especially for the older players who are already carrying mileage.
Good teams can survive a bad stretch. Title contenders have to be good for all 48 minutes. Philadelphia has the record to prove it can finish, but not yet the consistency to say it has figured out how to play from start to finish.
It’s still early, so there’s no need to sound the alarm about the championship picture. But if this keeps becoming the Sixers’ identity, it’s a problem they’ll need to fix fast.
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Sixers May Have Found A Real Answer When Embiid Sits
Replacing Joel Embiid is never going to be a clean one-for-one proposition, and the Sixers know it. When he sits, the problem is not just scoring, but the way his size and presence change everything behind the play, especially on the defensive end. In that context, the recent game against the Charlotte Hornets offered a useful glimpse at a different kind of solution, one built less around filling Embiids shoes and more around keeping the floor from tilting.
Adem Bona and Jabari Walker looked like a pairing that can give Philadelphia some real stability in those minutes, even if it is not meant to mimic Embiids offense. The idea is more rotational than transformational, but that matters for a team that needs workable answers when its centerpiece is off the court. If the Sixers can keep leaning into that combination, they may have found a practical way to survive the stretches that usually expose them. [Read more 🡒]
Joel Embiid's Status Suddenly Looms Over Sixers Vs Bulls
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The injury report also leaves the Sixers a little thinner elsewhere, with Dominick Barlow and Ariel Hukporti ruled out. For a team trying to keep its rotation steady while protecting Embiids health, the status report adds another layer of uncertainty heading into a matchup that already carries plenty of weight. [Read more 🡒]
Dean Wade Is Helping The Sixers But One Issue Still Looms
Dean Wade has given the 76ers something useful early in the season, especially on the defensive end and as a connective passer. He has fit into the rotation with real value, and the team clearly sees why he matters: he plays significant minutes, helps stabilize possessions, and has already shown he can make life easier for teammates around him.
The bigger question is whether Philadelphia can get more aggression from him as a scorer. The Sixers pushed Wade to shoot more during training camp, but he has stayed reluctant to let it fly, leaving his points and field-goal attempts low for the amount of run he is getting. If that hesitation sticks, it could cap how much offensive upside the team can squeeze from a player who otherwise has been doing plenty of the little things right. [Read more 🡒]