Philadelphia 76ers bench is team’s Achilles Heel for NBA Playoffs

(Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 16: Marco Belinelli
PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 16: Marco Belinelli

Bench to bench

Ultimately, the Philadelphia 76ers signed Ersan Ilyasova on February 28 2018. So lets compare the benches of the 76ers to their opponents since that signing head to head. Or better yet, bench to bench:

Team                                      Outcome       Score             Their bench score   Our bench score
Cleveland Cavaliers           W                     108- 97          37 Pts                         25 Pts
Charlotte Hornets             W                     110-  99          37 Pts                         29 Pts
Milwaukee Bucks              L                       110-118         32  Pts                        28 Pts
Chalotte Hornets               W                     128-114         51 Pts                         39 Pts
Miami Heat                          L                        99-108          46 Pts                         31 Pts
Brooklyn Nets                     W                     120- 97           43 Pts                        26 Pts
Indiana Pacers                    L                         98-101          31 Pts                        15 Pts
New York Knicks                W                      118-110         35 Pts                        22 Pts
Brooklyn Nets                     W                     120-116          52 Pts                       33 Pts

The pattern is … horrendous

So do you see the pattern?  In each game, the Philadelphia 76ers must not only outplay their opposing team counterparts, but they must outperform the other team’s starter by 10 points or better.  Who though this was a good idea?

More disturbing is the unanimous deficit of the Philadelphia 76ers bench to their opponent. And the fact that the team is 6-3 despite this bench shortcoming.  How long can these Philadelphia 76ers keep up bucking this trend?  Clearly the team surprised itself by benching Markelle Fultz the entire season. If Fultz played now, that would either place his production, of that of J.J. Redick, onto the bench. But the result of the personnel office’s series of inactions has placed this team into a precarious position. Even if the starting 5 outplay their opponent, can they push the team beyond the bench shortfall?