After starting the season 4-0 and winning five of their first six games, the Philadelphia Sixers have come back down to Earth with an 11-9 record, ninth in the East. Zach Lowe said it best on "The Zach Lowe Show" when he said, "I got no idea what to think," in reference to the Sixers.
He elaborated, saying that he doesn't think Joel Embiid has looked "good," adding that the center "doesn't want to move on defense" and that he's looked "just okay" on the offensive end. Lowe said that he understands that Embiid wants to protect the rim on defense, so he didn't mean that as a slight.
Lowe pointed out that Embiid isn't "hungry for brutalizing physical contact yet," which, again, Lowe didn't mean as a negative, considering that he's played a combined 58 regular-season games over the past two seasons and only seven this season. That's understandable, but as Lowe said, the Sixers are in an injury cycle with Embiid. It feels like his status is always a question mark.
Zach Lowe is unsure of what to think about the Sixers
You heard it a million times over the offseason, but to contend for a title with this roster, Philadelphia needs Embiid. He's played sparingly this season and is averaging only 19.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Between this version of Embiid, as well as Paul George, who has played only six games this season, it truly is hard to know what to think about the Sixers.
As the season goes on, that may not necessarily change. It seems like for the rest of Embiid's career, he'll be limited in when he plays and, when he does, it's on a minutes restriction. George is 35, so Philadelphia has to be careful with him, too. So far, that hasn't proven to be a winning combination.
One thing is for sure: Tyrese Maxey is incredible, averaging 32.5 points per game, but he's also averaging 40.1 minutes per game. That's not sustainable, not if the Sixers want to try to make a deep playoff run. You don't want to exhaust him before the postseason even starts.
Maxey has carried a lot of pressure the past couple of seasons, with Embiid and George both missing extended time. Sunday's loss to the Hawks was the first time this season that those three shared the floor. They're still trying to figure each other out. Will they ever? That's one of many questions.
Philadelphia is still trying to figure itself out, so it makes sense for the outsiders to be doing the same.