Philadelphia 76ers must improve for NBA playoffs, but where?

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PHILADELPHIA,PA – DECEMBER 21 : Robert Covington /

In space, nobody hears you scream.

That is why the likes of both Robert Covington and J.J. Redick are back on an upwards trend. In fact, with the exclusion of Jerryd Bayless, the Philadelphia 76ers three-point shooters are all better in recent games. But with a league average of 36.5 percent shooting from the perimeter, the Philadelphia 76ers running 17th in the league at 35.8 percent is still struggling. So if the team can improve one aspect of the “core” scheme, three-point shooting appears to be a good place to start.

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So that is a good place for the team to start. With the team averaging just 35.8 percent, who becomes “at risk” as the NBA trade deadline approaches? Well G Jerryd Bayless at 37 percent comes to mind. But the team could entertain divesting from SG Justin Anderson (31 percent), SG Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (30.8 pecent), Amir Johnson (20 percent), and even Trevor Booker (0 percent).

Turnaround turnovers, free throws, and fouls

Two areas that continue to blemish the Philadelphia 76ers is the lack of ball control, the team’s tendancy to commit so many personal fouls, and poor free throw shooting. To begin, the Philadelphia 76ers turnover the ball frequently. In fact, their 17.8 turnovers per game is not only the worst in the league, it’s 1.2 turnovers below the 29th place Los Angeles Lakers. That feels like a problem with youth, as nearly half of those turnovers fall upon Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. But that is more than just two players. Practically every player who touches the ball for Philadelphia with more than 17 minutes of playing time coughs up the ball at better than a 1.3 turnover per game clip.

Compounding the turnovers is personal fouls. The Philadelphia 76ers commit them, lots of them, per game. At 23.6 personal fouls per game, that earns them last place in the NBA. Fouls per se may not be a critical transgression, but with a team aiming at a fast pace, numerous fouls gives the opponent time to regroup. It also places our players in foul trouble, which either tampers their aggressiveness on defense, or puts them on the bench in critical closing minutes in a game.