The Sixer Sense
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5 improvements the Sixers need to make for a playoff run

By Dan Volpone

MIAMI, FL - FEBRUARY 27: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers warms up before a NBA game against the Miami Heat on February 27, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. 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 Ron Elkman/Sports Imagery/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - FEBRUARY 27: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers warms up before a NBA game against the Miami Heat on February 27, 2018 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. 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 Ron Elkman/Sports Imagery/Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – JANUARY 18: Shane Larkin #8 of the Boston Celtics attempts to steal the ball away from Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the second half of their game at TD Garden on January 18, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – JANUARY 18: Shane Larkin #8 of the Boston Celtics attempts to steal the ball away from Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the second half of their game at TD Garden on January 18, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images) /

5. Cutting turnovers

The Sixers having turnover issues was inevitable coming into the season. Their starting point guard is a rookie, and their leading scorer only played 32 games before this year. Having high usage players with so little experience is a recipe for a high turnover rate.

The Sixers rank dead last in the NBA in turnovers per game and turnover percentage, according to NBA.com, and neither is particularly close. On the year, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons average 3.8 and 3.6 turnovers, respectively.

Interestingly, according to 82games.com, the Sixers have actually committed fewer turnovers off of bad passes than their opponents. Instead, the large majority of their give-aways have come from ball handling errors.

Related Story: Should Fultz return this season?

This shows that the Sixers could find success cutting down on turnovers by making smarter decisions involving dribbling and driving into traffic.

On Thursday against the Cavs, they did just that. Embiid and Simmons only had two turnovers each, and the entire team only had ten.

When asked after the game, The Process saw even more room for improvement.

On the second half of the back-to-back, the Sixers once again took care of the ball with just 11 turnovers against Charlotte.

Next: 5 reasons the Sixers will compete for 2018-19 championship

In the playoffs, the Sixers won’t be able to turn the ball over 20 times and beat the league’s top teams. They’ll need to improve their ball security to have any chance of going on a deep run.