5 reasons for the Sixers’ recent struggles

The Sixers started the season 8-2 before COVID struck. Now, despite the recent return of Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris, Philadelphia sits at 11-11, which appropriately places them 11th in the Eastern Conference. That’s certainly not an ideal position for a team with championship aspirations.

While it is far too early to smash the panic button, there is understandable angst around the fanbase. The Sixers have a very limited window to deliver Joel Embiid a ring-worthy team, and right now, people are beginning to wonder if the current Sixers roster can be considered such a team.

As Ben Simmons continues to miss time due to mental unreadiness, Philadelphia is looking down the barrel of a pivotal point in the season. An extended losing spell could spell doom, while a return to pre-COVID form would assuage a great many concerns.

So, why exactly are the Sixers struggling?

5 reasons for the Sixers’ recent struggles: The bench’s volatility

After torching the nets to begin the season, Philadelphia’s second unit has taken a notable step back. It’s par for the course — law of averages and such — but the recent dip in performance has certainly been cause for concern.

At the forefront of that conversation, of course, is Furkan Korkmaz, who is averaging 5.7 points on .296/.244/.556 shooting splits over his last 10 games. After starting the season strong, and showcasing potential growth as both a playmaker and a secondary scorer, Korkmaz has hit rock bottom. He played six minutes in Wednesday’s loss to Boston, and is in desperate need of a turnaround.

The Sixers have also gotten much less from Andre Drummond lately. He remains a more than serviceable backup, but his stint as replacement starter for Joel Embiid uncovered some of the warts that have plagued his recent years past. He’s less useful defensively in certain matchups, and the Sixers can’t rely on him for smart offense every night.

On the whole, the Sixers bench is fine. Maybe even good. There’s enough talent and offensive versatility to go around, with Shake Milton experiencing something of a revival and Georges Niang firmly outplaying his contract. There are better days ahead.