The Philadelphia 76ers have been middling as of late. They have gone 5-7 in their last 12 games, but while they are still currently slotted in at sixth place in the Eastern Conference, they now have a razor thin margin to keep their hold on the final guaranteed playoff spot. The teams behind them are now giving them a real run for their money for No. 6.
Fortunately for them, they are set to welcome Paul George back in late March. After the NBA suspended him on January 31 for violation of the league’s anti-drug policy, the 76ers have become vulnerable at the forward positions — and the numbers do not lie. Philly has especially struggled on defense and in shooting from three-point range, which are the two things the nine-time All-Star can still supply them with.
Since Paul George was suspended, the Sixers are:
— Sleeper76ers (@sleeper76ers) March 5, 2026
➡️ 20th in Offensive Rating (112.6)
➡️ 22nd in 3-Point % (34.4)
➡️ 21st in Made Threes Per Game (12.0)
➡️ 20th in Defensive Rating (115.9)
➡️ 22nd in Opponent 3-Point % (36.7)
His March 25th return should be a serious boost. 👀 pic.twitter.com/FyWUeofCw6
Paul George will be a huge boost for the 76ers in the final stretch of the season
The playoff race in the East has become so tight that the 76ers will need every possible edge they can have to secure a guaranteed spot in the postseason after a one-year sabbatical. To that effect, getting George back will be massive for them as they aim to tighten their grip in the standings and avoid the precarious play-in tournament altogether.
Obviously, George is no longer the All-NBA caliber player that he was a few years back. He has seen a steep decline in his production, especially on the scoring end. But if there are two things he can still give to the 76ers, it is his steady perimeter defense and reliable spot-up shooting.
George is still shooting north of 38 percent this season from three-point territory, which is easily the best mark on the team among qualified players. His presence alone opens up a lot of driving space for Maxey and the other shot creators on the team, and he can still get to his spots and create his own shots when needed.
On defense, he is no longer the one-on-one defensive savant that he was in Indiana and Oklahoma City. Still, he remains highly effective when it comes to leveraging his ranginess to cover a lot of space and be disruptive in the passing lanes.
Clearly, the Philadelphia 76ers will have a much easier time securing a playoff spot with Paul George in the fold. After all, despite people calling him washed, he still has a lot left in the tank for this squad.