Expensive free throws
But perhaps the single deficiency to this team is the lackluster performance at the free throw line. Right now, the Philadelphia 76ers succeed on 75.5 percent of their free throw shots. While that seems okay, it’s only good enough for 22nd in the league.
Air Alamo
And it creates opportunities for opposing teams to leverage against the Philadelphia 76ers in a post-season forum. On one hand, Joel Embiid is good at the foul line, as he scores 80 percent of his shots. On the other hand, Ben Simmons is a far cry less effective, scoring at a 56 percent rate on his free throws.
Foul foul line
Simmons scores at 51 percent from the floor. Embiid scores at 48.9 percent from the floor. If Embiid is driving for the shot, his points per shot come in at .978 points per shot from the floor. Meanwhile, Ben Simmons comes in at 1.12 points per shot from the floor. But from the foul line, Joel Embiid averages 1.6 points for two foul shots, while Simmons averages 1.12. To an opponent, it is a tough decision to foul Embiid, but not much debate to foul Ben Simmons.
The reason is this: The foul likely only costs the team one point, and they will likely get the rebound and a possession by which they can quickly score two or three points. On top of that, a slow-paced opponent controls the game tempo by fouling Simmons. It neutralizes the 76ers offense should the Sixers find themselves in a scoring run.