The Philadelphia 76ers lost 103:105 to the Brooklyn Nets at home, suffering their seventh consecutive loss. There was booing at Philadelphia’s home court, and Philadelphia fans were very disappointed with the 76ers’ performance and the loss.
The Nets started rebuilding this season and made it clear that they had given up. Before the player trading deadline on February 7, they sent away top 3D forward Smith and best sixth man-level guard Schroeder one after another. The 76ers’ Big Three of Embiid, George, and Maxey all played in the game against the Nets, but they were still suppressed by the Nets all the way.
The 76ers have a record of 20 wins and 36 losses and are ranked 12th in the Eastern Conference. They are only 1.5 games away from the last spot in the playoffs, the 10th-placed Bulls in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls currently have 22 wins and 35 losses. The 76ers are among the top 10 in the Eastern Conference. It is not impossible for them to grab a spot in the top eight of the playoffs through the playoffs.
The top six teams in the NBA’s Eastern and Western Conferences advance directly to the playoffs, and the 7th to 10th teams compete for the last two playoff spots through the play-in tournament.
Last summer, the 76ers spent a huge sum of money, $212 million over four years, to sign George from the free agent market. George also loudly declared, “I will bring a championship to Philadelphia.” This now seems particularly ironic.
The 76ers signed George with a top-level contract to form a “super team” with center Embiid, forward George, and guard Maxey as the core. Key supporting forward Martin played very well for the Heat last season and had a great influence on the game. Power forward Yabusele played like a star player for France in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The two veteran guards Lowry and Jackson are both competent functional players. Veteran shooter Gordon still has regular scoring explosiveness. Small forward Ubree averaged 15.4 points and 5 rebounds per game for the 76ers last season. The coach, team, and teammates have great confidence in Ubree.
Unexpectedly, this lineup faced an unprecedented “disaster”.
Embiid has only played in 19 of the 56 games this year due to injury, and George has only played in 37 games due to injury, with a playing rate of only 66%. George averaged 16.1 points per game and had a shooting percentage of 43%, the lowest point in his career in the past 10 years. Looking at the four-year, $212 million contract in the hands of the 35-year-old George, 76ers general manager Morey and owner Harris were in tears.
Embiid has a serious knee injury, and the next problem will be more troublesome.
Although he played in 19 games this season, it was obvious that Embiid was barely able to play despite severe arthritis and knee injuries. His defense couldn’t keep up, his footwork was slow, and his offensive rhythm tended to sell his experience and old-school style of play.
The latest news is that Embiid is working with the team to study how to deal with his knee injury. Because injection treatment can no longer help Embiid cope with the demands of the game, Embiid is likely to need surgery and enter a long treatment and rehabilitation process.
In order to reverse the downward trend, the 76ers sent away two forwards C Martin and K Martin and guard Jackson before the player trading deadline, trying to change the situation and improve teamwork, and the results were immediately reflected in the record. The 76ers have lost seven games in a row, and Embiid lost all five games he played with injuries.
The 76ers were supposed to be a “super team” with a core trio, but they suddenly became a lottery team and are now in danger of even making the play-offs. Injuries are the main reason. 76ers coach North is superstitious about the players’ fame, and poor defense is a difficult-to-solve cause.
The 76ers’ defensive efficiency ranks 24th, at the bottom of the class. Embiid missed two-thirds of the season, George played on and off, and it was difficult for role players to adapt and integrate. The super team collapsed from then on.
C Martin failed to play with the efficiency and confidence he had in the Heat era, so he was sent away. K Martin was mostly not in the rotation, so he was sent away. Jackson was almost useless, so he was sent away. Then, the 76ers’ two veterans, Lowry and Gordon, were put on the injury list one after another. Lowry has only played 33 games and Gordon 39 games, and the coach is stretched to the limit in terms of maneuvering.
The 76ers messed up the elite combination of the “super team”. Embiid’s long-term injuries were the core reason, and George’s injury degradation was the reason. The 76ers coach North did not use role players well, and he also has to bear the greatest responsibility for not being able to hold up the defense.
Regardless of whether Embiid lies down for surgery to repair his knee, or whether the 76ers will give up this season early, this season for the 76ers has been a nightmare, and the future is full of variables.
