Philadelphia 76ers: 3 reasons to avoid midseason panic

The Philadelphia 76ers have hit a speed bump, not a brick wall.

The Philadelphia 76ers enter the new year on a three-game losing streak — not the best strategy when it comes to inspiring a historically impatient and impulsive fanbase. There are plenty of valid concerns about the Sixers and their ability to contend, but the onset of mass panic in Philadelphia is premature.

From a pure talent perspective, the Sixers stand atop the Eastern Conference. Giannis Antetokounmpo is a one-man wrecking crew, but Philadelphia has a top-10 player of its own in Joel Embiid — one who happens to match up quite well against Antetokounmpo one-on-one.

Flanking Embiid is Ben Simmons, Al Horford, Tobias Harris, and Josh Richardson — four All-Star or borderline All-Star talents. One can critique the much-maligned fit between individuals pieces, but on the whole, not starting five carries as much raw potential as Philadelphia.

As 2020 gets underway — the first game of the new year is Jan. 3 in Houston — it’s important to maintain perspective. The Sixers were never a regular season team, a topic we and others in the blogging community have pounded into oblivion. It’s about May and June, not November and December.

Here’s why everyone needs to take a chill pill.