The Sixer Sense
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Winning cures Philadelphia 76ers temporary ailments

By Bret Stuter

CAMDEN, NJ - SEPTEMBER 25: Ben Simmons #25, Joel Embiid #21 and Markelle Fultz #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers pose for the camera during the Philadelphia 76ers Media Day on September 25, 2017 at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex in Camden, New Jersey.NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
CAMDEN, NJ - SEPTEMBER 25: Ben Simmons #25, Joel Embiid #21 and Markelle Fultz #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers pose for the camera during the Philadelphia 76ers Media Day on September 25, 2017 at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex in Camden, New Jersey.NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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The too patient Philadelphia 76ers are suddenly impatient. After an 0-3 start, nothing seemed to work. But winning will fix everything

The Philadelphia 76ers have lost plenty of games in the past four NBA seasons. So why is the 0-3 start so frightening to players, coaches, and most of all, the fans?

Deja vu?

I’ve seen a myriad of speculations identifying causes of the 76ers woes in starting 0-3.  Markelle Fultz’s odd shot. Head coach Brett Brown can’t coach.  Rebounds. Sophomore slumps. Shooting. You name it, it’s been identified as a cause of 76ers woes.

Why? Three games is hardly a significant sample. Particularly when the games faced the 76ers to the best of the NBA East.  While the 76ers are improving now, they are so very very raw. And in the first three games, it showed. The defense wasn’t stout.  The shooting wasn’t accurate. The rookies weren’t delivering. The team wasn’t in synch.

In the end, sometimes on a given night, the Philadelphia 76er simply run into a better team.  Early in the season, it does happen that way.  But it doesn’t last.

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    • Detroit wrong team right time

    Such was the case when the Philadelphia 76ers ran into the Detroit Pistons in Detroit. Limping into Detrot, after the 128-94 thrashing by the Toronto Raptors. But that was a game without Joel Embiid, and Jahlil Okafor coming in for spot relief off the bench.   That game confirmed that the Philadelphia 76ers, even with Ben Simmons and J.J. Redick, needs Joel Embiid to win. But it confirmed other points to pause and consider too:

    In recent games, Ben Simmons flirted with a triple-double.  As a matter of fact, Ben Simmons scored a triple double against the Detroit Pistons. In his fourth NBA game. Those simply do not happen often, and adds the exclamation point to the fact that he was the right choice in the 2016 NBA Draft.  And his triple double was no fluke. He routinely scores and rebounds. Now, as his assists improve, he will routinely put up triple doubles.

    Embiid still excels

    Joel Embiid is a team changing player. He studies film, and then simply goes out and executes from that film. So what? So how about 30 points on 11 of 15 shooting from the floor? He led all scorers in the game. In fact, Simmons was the second leading scorer in the game.  So much for Embiid’s “sophomore slump”.

    In the end, there are four undefeated teams in the NBA. None of which have played more than three games. This is a difficult league. Not only are some teams very much improved, but the 82 game season is challenging enough on its own due to the durability needed.  The Philadelphia 76ers are now 1-3.

    Next: RECAP: Philadelphia 76ers 97, Detroit Pistons 86

    Future schedule

    On one hand, this team faces the Houston Rockets twice in the next three games. On the other hand, the team does face the struggling Dallas Mavericks.  So, the likely second win will likely come at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks.  Is 2-5 good enough for Philadelphia 76ers fans?  Likely not. In fact, November 2017 will likely be difficult as well. But December 2017 will be a very good month for faithful fans.

    And in the end, winning cures everything wrong with the Philadelphia 76ers.