This strange season remains strange for the Sixers. The word 'strange' in regards to your favorite sports team is typically not a compliment. The Sixers don't stink, but they also aren't even average. They are infinitely the eleven seed in the Eastern Conference in 2024-25 and they feel like an actual, genuine eleven seed. They don't seem to be over or under achieving in any way. I suppose there's an argument to be made that Embiid is injured, and George has been on and off the court, battling injury even when he does play. But we are 50 games in now. What if's, and coulda, shoulda, wouldas just aren't convincing me anymore. I ain't buying it. Not at this point anyway... 🤔
Indeed, the season is pretty much sixty-one percent done and the Sixers have not budged from the eleven seed in forever it seems. Looking at the win column, the Sixers have two less wins than the Bulls for the final play-in spot and they have three more wins than the twelfth seed Nets. Yep, the Sixers have a weird looking, pretty poor 20-30 record as I write this. Meh.
On Wednesday vs the Heat, the Sixers fought ok but yet again, lost. The Sixers are competent, but just barely so. There's rarely moments that the team wows you. It's also mostly uncommon the team looks awful. The Sixers actually forced a whopping 22 turnovers against Miami while only committing 4 of their own. That's actually really good, they played pretty clean and somewhat fundamentally sound basketball, but just didn't have the depth or overall firepower. The Heat aren't loaded with jaw-dropping talent but they are soooo deep and well balanced.
The Sixers are just small and one of the older teams in the league. Losing rookie Jared McCain was massive. Never consistently having the TWO main centers on the court in Embiid and Drummond is really a recipe for disaster.
I probably sound negative, but I just don't know how to feel, the team just feels like an echo of itself. I'll believe it when I see it frankly. Maybe Embiid intends to play a bunch after the All-Star break and truly be healthy for a playoff run. Maybe I should trust the plan. On paper, that actually does sound brilliant, but time is seriously ticking and the chemistry needs to be stronger. Spring is around the corner especially after the upcoming All-Star break, as I mentioned.
But yeah, speaking of Embiid, he should be back tonight to take on Detroit. The vibes are high in Detroit. It's still early February and they already are having their best season since the 2018-19 season. They are far from pushovers these days and sit as the seventh seed in the East currently, very much in the mix to climb higher, or lower I suppose. Bottom line is though they are a solid squad.
Every night is a mystery when it comes to this Sixers team so let's just see how it goes. Your guess is as good as mine. My tone has been fairly negative but hey, it has been pretty intriguing, I'll admit. It's been an odd, but not exactly uninteresting season.
Season ain't over. Maybe they'll get hot and stay hot.