4 76ers who are exceeding expectations, 2 underperforming at the All-Star break

The Philadelphia 76ers have won just three of their last 12 games heading into the All-Star break. Joel Embiid was having a historic season but is out for the foreseeable future with a knee injury. The Sixers upgraded their roster before the trade deadline, and the franchise hopes it was enough to keep them afloat until Embiid returns.

Philadelphia was near the top of the standings, but their recent skid has dropped them to fifth in the Eastern Conference. They are just 2.5 games ahead of the Heat, who sit seventh. The 76ers need to find their footing without Embiid if they want to avoid the Play-In Tournament.

The Sixers are ten games over .500 and had a lot of positives in the first half. With the All-Star break here, which players are over or underperforming expectations?

Exceeding expectations: Buddy Hield

The deadline acquisition has played just four games with Philly, but he has been fantastic in those contests. He has scored over 20 points in each and has showcased some strong playmaking. Hield is averaging 22.3 points, 7.5 assists, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.8 steals on 52.3 percent shooting from the field and 45.0 percent on his 3-point tries. It is a small sample, but the 6’4 wing has certainly been better than anyone could have expected.

Hield is an elite shooter capable of scoring 20 every night. The Sixers won’t need him to when Embiid returns, but he can certainly fill the void while the reigning MVP is out. His shooting percentages will dip, but Hield will still put on a show. Head coach Nick Nurse’s system seems like a strong fit for the 31-year-old, and it will be fascinating to see what he can do after the break.

Not all of the Philadelphia 76ers additions have worked out this season, but Buddy Hield has been outstanding and allowed the front office to maintain their flexibility this summer.