Are the Sixers Finally Turning It Around?

Corey Chmara

This past week, the 76ers went 3-1 overall, and it looks like they finally have something positive going for them. Philadelphia currently sits at 7-15 on the season, but they’ve won four of their last five games and have Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, and Joel Embiid all healthy—at least, for now.

On Tuesday, the Sixers took on the Charlotte Hornets and won, 110-104. The Sixers were in control for most of the game, but Charlotte kept hanging around and even took the lead with a minute and a half left. However, Tyrese Maxey scored 11 points in the final 90 seconds, helping the Sixers squeak out a win. This game marked Paul George’s best performance of the season, as he scored 29 points on 10-of-16 shooting, along with eight assists. Following the win over Charlotte, the Sixers faced the Orlando Magic at home in the second half of a back-to-back. Both Paul George and Joel Embiid were absent. While the game didn’t feature anything particularly memorable, rookie Jared McCain continued his strong start, scoring 24 points on 10-of-17 shooting in 38 minutes. The Sixers lost, 106-102.

The Sixers then played the Magic again on Friday night, this time with Paul George in the lineup. His return helped propel the Sixers to a 102-94 win. KJ Martin was also a key contributor, scoring 20 points in 31 minutes off the bench. Although I’m not a huge fan of Martin’s overall game, he’s been solid and a major spark off the bench this season.

On Sunday, the Sixers finally got Joel Embiid back as they faced the Chicago Bulls in Chicago. This was just the second time this season that Embiid, Maxey, and George all played together. Embiid was a key contributor, scoring 31 points in 32 minutes. Maxey recorded his first career triple-double, finishing with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 14 assists, a career-high in assists. George added 12 points, hitting some tough shots to keep the Sixers in striking distance during the first half.

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While the Sixers have won four of their last five games, they still rank 29th in points scored per game (105 ppg) and 28th in 3-point percentage (32.1%). Despite the win against Chicago, the Sixers shot just 9-of-36 from beyond the arc, or 25%. Three-point shooting has been a major issue all season, and while the team gets open looks, they’ve struggled to convert them.

Caleb Martin’s playing time has decreased significantly in recent games. He played just 22 minutes combined in the last two contests. I’d like to see Martin on the floor more, as he’s an experienced and solid defender. However, KJ Martin has been taking those minutes. KJ Martin has played 50 minutes over the last two games, a significant increase compared to his usual workload. While KJ Martin has been effective recently, I’d still like to see his playing time reduced to give Caleb Martin a chance to find a rhythm, especially considering the Sixers signed Caleb to a four-year, $32 million contract this past offseason.

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As for Jared McCain, he’s come back down to Earth a bit, mostly due to the limited minutes and opportunities. He started both games against Orlando and came off the bench in Charlotte and Chicago. While I love McCain’s energy, I think his spark is most effective off the bench, where he can provide both scoring and a burst of energy.

With the NBA Cup playoffs starting this week, the Sixers don’t play again until Friday when the Indiana Pacers come to town. This will be Philadelphia’s only game this week. The long break is a welcome relief, especially given the team’s history of players being ruled out due to "rest" or "injury management." With the Sixers now just two games out of the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, staying healthy and building team chemistry will be key to continuing their recent success.

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