Sixers: 5 lessons from 2-0 start vs. Wizards

The Philadelphia 76ers have a 2-0 series lead over the Washington Wizards and are firmly in the driver’s seat. While the Wizards have enough transition firepower to make games competitive in D.C., the Sixers outclass them across the board. This should not be a long series.

That said, there are still lessons to be learned as Philadelphia gears up for a two-game road trip. Here’s what we can take away from the Sixers’ successful home stint.

Sixers lessons learned: The Wizards are too small

Washington’s defense is virtually incapable of contending with Philadelphia’s core pieces. This series does not come down to offensive firepower, which the Wizards can certainly muster. It comes down to tempo. If the Sixers are controlling the tempo and keeping Washington in the halfcourt, then it’s game over.

A big reason why is the Wizards’ defense, which cannot contain a patient, well-oiled Sixers offense. They simply lack the size. Tobias Harris can hunt mismatches all day long. Ben Simmons can muscle right through Russell Westbrook or Bradley Beal. Joel Embiid is faced with double teams, but those double teams rarely feature enough length and activity to bother him. It’s an unfair fight.

The Sixers have hung their hats on size for a while now, for better and worse. This series is a prime example of size playing in their favor. The Wizards are too small in the backcourt and have no real options behind Raul Neto and Ish Smith, which makes adjustments a futile idea. The Wizards are built to run, but when the Sixers prevent them from doing so, it’s game over.

Harris picked apart the Wizards offense to the tune of 37 points in Game 1. In Game 2, it was Ben Simmons who dropped 22 points on 15 shots in 28 minutes. The Sixers are too big and too physical for this team. Period.