After four straight wins to begin the season, the vibes were immaculate in Philadelphia. After all, the team looked like real contenders for the title despite missing the services of an All-Star in Paul George and a fast riser in Jared McCain. However, their stay on cloud nine appears to be over as their winning streak has just been snapped.
Playing hosts to their bitter rivals in the Celtics, whom they beat during the season opener, the 76ers lost to the visitors in a very tight affair. Philly had a chance to secure a win during the last possession of the game thanks to a pair of missed free throws by Boston, but they were not even able to get off a shot attempt in time.
This time, the basketball gods deemed it proper not to reward the 76ers for facing a significant deficits before the final frame. The Celtics led by as much as 24 against them, and while the hosts found a way to be in a position to steal a win outright, they just couldn’t get it done before the final horn. Even worse, it was their first in-season tournament game.
The 76ers get down big once again as the Celtics finally make them pay
This team’s recurring trend of allowing its opponents to mount double-digit leads has been rather concerning. Philly had fallen behind by double digits in three of their first four outings, and while all of those eventually ended up in wins, that pattern was just not going to cut it in a sustainable way.
Last night, Boston finally made them pay. Despite having a stronger lineup, Philadelphia allowed its archrival to wreak havoc early. While their comeback effort is laudable, it was only a matter of time until they fall victim to their own doing.
Moving forward, the 76ers have to recognize that falling behind and starting slow is not a marker of a good, consistent team. Consistency will always be a trait present in real championship contenders, and until they learn how to play with energy and wit right from the get go and until the final buzzer, there will always be doubts as to their viability to be in the consideration for the title.
Now, comeback wins are always thrilling and tout a richer narrative flair, but they cannot be the norm. The 76ers blatantly ignored their concerning pattern in recent games, and the kismet-like forces of basketball just dished out a stern warning.
Hopefully, this will be a lesson for them, lest they inculcate this bad habit into an actual team-wide attribute that will doom them later down the road.