The Philadelphia 76ers are heading into the All-Star break with a record of 30-24, sitting sixth in the Eastern Conference and having exceeded last season's win total by six wins. Despite this level of what some would call success, it's important to realize that it is only relative to the complete nightmare that was the Sixers' 2024-25 season.
While this year has certainly been an improvement, thanks to the team's improved health, additions like VJ Edgecombe and Dominick Barlow, and the continued development of Tyrese Maxey, there have also been tremendous shortcomings, like the Sixers' 138-89 loss to the New York Knicks on Wednesday night.
Make whatever excuse you want — there’s no justification for a near 50-point loss at home between two professional teams, especially when you're a supposed playoff contender.
Yes, the absences of Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Quentin Grimes will certainly impact the team's ability to win, as does recklessly trading away one of your best shooters for future assets. The Sixers can be forgiven for losing this game, despite the Knicks also missing multiple contributors, but the way they approached the matchup cannot simply be overlooked.
Often, following a frustrating loss, Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey has said that the team needs to flush it and move on to the next game. It's effectively the same concept as next play mentality—the idea of not letting the previous play or any singular play, whether positive or negative, define you.
After the Knicks' game, Maxey voiced a similar sentiment when asked about his message to the team entering the All-Star break.
"Just relax," Maxey began. "Relax. It's going to be a big push for us. We determine basically our own fate right now... that's good for us and I think we feel good like we're in a good position. Like I said, tonight is what it is, and we'll be alright."
Inherently, it's not bad advice, and understandable coming from the team's vocal leader. But, at some point, a team needs to stand up and say, "No more," which is effectively the concept the now two-time All-Star pitched entering the season.
Back in September of last year, at the team's media day press conference, Maxey spoke at length about what he wanted to accomplish in Philadelphia.
"We need a standard," Maxey said. "Like, this is who we are every single day, no matter who plays, no matter who doesn't play. When you see the Philadelphia 76ers, this is what you see.
"You're going to see that team every single night, every single time you turn the TV on, every single time you step foot in whatever arena that we're playing in. This is the team that you're going to get, and this is the type of culture you're going to get. They're going to do this thing, they're going to do a certain thing, a certain way, every single night."
Health, or rather the lack thereof, was the primary reason for last season's struggles, but it was certainly not the only reason, and some of those have continued to bleed into this season.
In recent years, the Sixers have found themselves playing down to their opponents' level and would even enter games unprepared, leading to blowout losses. A far cry from the standard Maxey wished to establish.
This season, the Sixers have suffered several blowout losses, most of which have come without Joel Embiid, but Maxey's entire point was to set a standard regardless of who plays and who doesn't. Philadelphia has lost five games by 25 or more points this season. Last season, out of the team's 58 losses, only six came by 25 or more points. All seasons are not created equal, but the Sixers are losing by large margins at a higher rate than during their nightmare season.
It's not to say that Maxey should be elevated over his teammates or placed on some pedestal. In fact, those in a position of leadership on the team—from Maxey to head coach Nick Nurse and even higher—are arguably at the forefront of fault, given the added burden of leadership.
Looking again at Maxey, at various points in the season, he has been equally guilty as his teammates, failing to hit the floor with intent to compete from the opening tip.
The burden Maxey carries, playing more minutes per game in the NBA than anyone while leading a lineup of inconsistent names, is legitimate and taxing. That is on his head coach and the front office, but one cannot have it both ways, calling for a standard no matter the excuse and then failing to live up to it, even with cause.
Under Nick Nurse, whether by correlation or causation, execution has declined. From the team's consistent third-quarter struggles and more frequent blowout losses to players' failures to execute the most fundamental aspects of basketball, the Sixers have been plagued by several struggles in recent years.
While players play, coaches are responsible for preparing the players. The Sixers are dead last in the NBA in average third-quarter margin (-4.4). They are also far behind the 29th-ranked Utah Jazz (-2.6). The team consistently faces an uphill battle, coming out of the locker room cold after the half and failing to make adjustments, unlike their opponents. The Sixers' overall game plan on both ends is rather vanilla, and their inability to adjust continues to cost them in the second half, but that's only a partial factor in their larger struggles. Since Nurse took charge of the team, the Sixers have lost a total of 14 games by 25 or more points. For reference, they lost only six games by that amount under Doc Rivers' entire tenure in Philly.
The team is not abiding by the standard Maxey previously discussed, and, by all appearances, they lack the desire to prevent such outcomes, just as they haven't taken pride in mastering the fundamentals of the game.
On any given night, the Sixers will struggle to defend one-on-one, box out, or defend back-door cuts. Additionally, while they rank fifth in the NBA in blocks per game, the Sixers struggle to defend inside the arc without recording a block and allow the seventh-worst opponent non-blocked two-point percentage (61.8%). The only playoff team that ranks worse is the Los Angeles Lakers (62.3 percent), who rank fifth. The only teams in the top 10 of both stats are the Washington Wizards and the Orlando Magic.
These bad habits feed on each other and undermine the team’s success. The only way to overcome bad habits is to instill good ones, and that's among the top responsibilities of a head coach.
Finally, onto the front office. To keep this short, as this horse is most certainly dead and beating it further serves little purpose, a team that consistently values savings over making additions will not give players the impression that they are believed in.
It is not about ducking the tax. It is not, inherently, about Jared McCain.
The Philadelphia 76ers front office under Daryl Morey has only once approached the trade deadline in a way that would instill such a belief, and that was the 2024 deadline when the team acquired Buddy Hield and Cam Payne. The move did not work as many had hoped, but the team made the attempt and should be recognized for doing what it takes to improve the team on paper, even if players and coaches failed to execute.
With all of these negatives, how could anyone, especially fans, have any semblance of hope around the Philadelphia 76ers, let alone that they could set this standard Maxey dreams of?
There are three reasons why Sixers fans should not give up hope. The first is Tyrese Maxey and the organization's dedication to him. As long as Maxey is in Philadelphia, he has the opportunity to attempt to instill this standard.
The Philadelphia 76ers are fully committed to Maxey as their franchise star for several reasons, including his obvious talent as a rising two-time All-Star, his infectiously positive but relentless nature, and, his immense popularity among the fanbase—something that may seem odd for an organization that has historically prioritized business over emotion, but when one remembers how that affects ticket and merch sales becomes more understandable.
Barring a change of heart on his end, Maxey is the heart and soul of this team, and the Sixers will do what they feel is in the team's best interest to build a competitive team around him, one that meets the proposed 76ers standard.
After Maxey, there is VJ Edgecombe, whom the franchise already views as indispensable for many of the same reasons as Maxey. The rookie guard boasts a tremendous amount of potential due to his elite athleticism and tireless work ethic, the latter of which has already helped him far exceed expectations in year one.
Already one of the NBA's most dynamic backcourts, the Sixers' guard pair is set up for a decade of thrilling play, especially if the organization can manage to build around them properly. Like Maxey, Edgecombe's impact extends beyond the court, and together, they will lead this team into the future.
Finally, there's the aspect that many Sixers fans would disagree with if polled today, but that does not make it any less true.
The Philadelphia 76ers are on the cusp of recovering from years of poor asset management. Trading the pick that would eventually become Tyrese Maxey for the opportunity to draft Anžejs Pasečņiks—thankfully, the Sixers re-acquired the pick, but did so at an additional cost in the Markelle Fultz trade. Trading two first-round picks for Tobias Harris to then sign him to a near-max contract that lurked over the franchise like an albatross. Moving off the contract of Al Horford a year after signing him by attaching a protected pick that, thanks to the Stepien Rule, has handcuffed your ability to trade draft picks for over five years. These are just a few of the examples of poor asset management the Sixers have suffered through over recent years, but the light at the end of the tunnel can now be seen.
Yes, the contracts of Paul George and Joel Embiid remain, but after this season, they will be down to two and three years, respectively, making the idea of offloading one of the two, or even acquiring talented players by including even more assets, a possibility.
The Sixers will own a first-round pick in each of the next seven drafts after their 2026 first-round pick is conveyed to the Thunder. The team also possesses 13 second-round picks in that time.
While not exactly flush with assets, Philadelphia is in a significantly improved position moving forward, assuming the front office does nothing to worsen its standing.
It may take a year or two, but the path to transforming this team into the Tyrese Maxey standard remains. The foundation is in place, but whether they decide to build on it remains to be seen.
Unless otherwise stated, all stats included in this article are via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass, Basketball Reference or Team Rankings. All salary information via Spotrac.
