Defense needs work
On the flip side of the coin, these Philadelphia 76ers cannot hope to win shoot-em-outs to get to the playoffs. At some point, the team needs to improve that defense. The team is currently ranked 20th in the NBA after just one game, so it’s nothing to get excited about, yet. The Washington Wizards are prolific at scoring. They were fifth in the NBA last season, and appear to be improved this year.
I have already encountered the “Coach Brown cannot win with this team” on social media. I support individual opinions. But I cannot agree that the first game for five of ten Philadelphia players truly defines the season. They will improve.
https://youtu.be/Ks4DXN8YNX0
By the numbers
But when you look at the numbers from the season opener, the story is a little rosier. The Wizards only shot 27.3 percent from three-point range. And they were held to 43.3 percent from the floor. So where is the disconnect?
Well, the Wizards held a slight advantage on the boards – 62 rebounds to the Sixers 57. They had double the fouls shooting opportunities than the 76ers: 38 to Philly’s 19. And the 76ers turned the ball over excessively: 17 times to Washington’s 10.
All of these issues are symptoms of a team familiarizing themselves with one another. Even better, these issues can be corrected rather quickly in practice.