The Philadelphia 76ers are sitting pretty at 9-3, the second-best record in the Eastern Conference, but Joel Embiid just laid out the cold, hard truth: they’ve “got a long way to go.” Their hot start is hiding some serious cracks, especially on offense, and Embiid himself is owning the struggles.
Offense? What Offense?
You look at that 9-3 record and think, “Philly is cooking!” Then you dive into the numbers, and it’s a completely different story. Out of the entire NBA, these guys are ranked 24th in scoring, putting up just 110.2 points per game. That’s not a championship offense, folks. They’re also 24th in field-goal shooting at 44.0%, 20th in assists with 25.7 dimes, and 22nd in offensive rating (109.8). Oh, and their three-point shooting? A miserable 33.7%, also good for 22nd in the league.
Embiid wasn’t sugarcoating it after Thursday morning’s shootaround. He said, “Obviously, offensively and defensively, we’re not where we want to be.” It’s exciting that they know they’re “not even close to doing what we should be doing,” but that kind of self-awareness has to translate into results, and fast. The big man pointed directly at the core issue: “it all boils down to shot-making.” He also feels the half-court offense is a “major disappointment” because it sometimes leans way too hard on iso-ball.
Embiid’s Own Struggles and a Rough Road Ahead
It’s not just the team, either. Embiid, a seven-time All-Star, is putting the blame squarely on himself. “I just go to be better,” he admitted. His own shooting numbers are concerning: 37.0% from the field and a brutal 12.1% from beyond the arc. When asked about the “crowded” feeling on offense, he immediately linked it back to himself: “I think it’s also because I have to make shots. So yeah, I put it on me.” That’s the kind of accountability you want to see from your star, but it also highlights how deep these offensive woes run.
Tonight, the Sixers face the Toronto Raptors (5-6) at Xfinity Mobile Arena, trying to forget their Tuesday night 123-101 beatdown by the Boston Celtics. The Raptors are limping in, having lost two straight and five of their last seven. They’re also missing a ton of key players: Kawhi Leonard (left knee), Scottie Barnes (left groin strain), Bate Bittle (right foot avulsion fracture), and Trayce Jackson-Davis (illness). The Sixers aren’t entirely healthy either, with LeBron James getting the night off for low back/sciatica issues, and Adem Bona (cervical spine sprain) and Dom Barlow (low back stress reaction) still sidelined. Embiid himself is questionable with a right foot plantar fascia injury, though his media availability is a good sign he could play. Even with Toronto’s injuries, Embiid isn’t taking them lightly, calling them a “physical team. Tough game, obviously.” He knows their history, too: while the Sixers beat them 115-102 back on Jan. 12, the Raptors had won six of seven contests before that.
The 76ers are looking to erase the memory of their Celtics loss. Embiid believes playing hard and competing is the key to hitting this season’s goals. But if those ugly offensive numbers don’t turn around, this hot start could quickly cool off. They’ve got to be ready for tonight and figure out how to put points on the board consistently.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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