The Philadelphia 76ers are off to a hot start this season, having racked up four wins in their first five games. Their star-studded and revamped core has won in different ways so far, showcasing that despite the group still brewing their chemistry, their talent alone can win them games. That being said, their win-loss card might not be an accurate indicator of how good they are as a collective at this juncture.
In all of their outings so far, the 76ers have had to climb out of holes. In their most recent win over the Pacers, they collapsed during the third quarter before staging and pulling off a comeback in the final frame. Obviously, the fact that they still won despite that is the most important thing, but their current modus is simply not sustainable.
The 76ers might not be as good as what their current record suggests
Philly has been very prone to slow starts. They have the third-worst net rating in the league during first quarters while being 15th in second quarters. What has saved them so far is their dominance during the second half where they tout the eighth-best net rating in third quarters and the second highest net rating in the final frame.
Obviously, it is a great sign that the 76ers have been one of the best teams when it comes to closing out games. After all, a win is a win. But the regular season is all about building good habits for April and beyond, and right now, they constantly find themselves having to climb out of holes, most of which are self-inflicted.
The 76ers do not have to be the most dominant team in the league in every quarter or half. Given their star power, just being a consistently good and stable group in between breaks will go a long way toward them raking in a lot of wins this season. So far, they have not been able to do that, although it is way too early for that to be a firm indicator of their ceiling.
For now, it is probably prudent to say that the 76ers are not as good as what their current win-loss card suggests. While that might be a tad abrasive, it is actually a positive thing since it only goes to show that this ball club is capable of so much more as the season goes on.
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