1. Time
A common theme from Sixers basketball over the past couple seasons is time. When you cycle through the additions (and losses) of Jimmy Butler, Tobias Harris, Al Horford, and Josh Richardson over an eight-month period, you’re bound to need time. Time to learn, time to adjust, and time to gel.
The Sixers entered the 2019-20 season with two new starters and a starter who had joined the team in February. Conversely, the Sixers had lost Jimmy Butler and J.J. Redick, the two most important perimeter scorers in Philadelphia’s offense last season. An adjustment period wasn’t a possibility, it was a certainty.
Philadelphia might need more time than most fans expected. Horford looks out of sorts, Richardson hasn’t found his comfort zone, and Embiid is working with a more congested paint than ever before. There are several variables left to figure out.
But, in the end, the Sixers are 23-13 and on a 52-win pace despite the bad losses, disappointing efforts, and cryptic locker room talk. There are 46 games left in the regular season, All-Star break to get right, and many more practices to build up good habits and continuity.
The Sixers have time to figure things out. This is not the final product, and it’s only reasonable to expect significant growth between now and late April. Philadelphia will be fine.