To start this season, the Sixers have been the worst team when it comes to their play in the second half. Going into halftime, Philly seems to be able to keep the score close no matter how undermanned. But they can’t seem to carry it into the second half. Part of that is because they have yet to be at full strength this season, but the other part is the team’s lack of execution when it matters.
The 76ers Are The Worst 2nd Half Team In The League
After losing to the undermanned Orlando Magic, the 76ers now sit at 2-1o, with the Toronto Raptors being the only team with a worse record. The Sixers would have a 10-point lead over Orlando almost halfway through the third. But the fourth quarter would see Philly repeat the same story that’s been occurring all season, scoring 14 points to Orlando’s 25, losing 98-86. Despite a great game from Jared McCain and a great first half from Joel Embiid, it wasn’t enough to take down the Magic team without their young star Paolo Banchero. Their poor execution in the second half is unacceptable, and if they don’t fix it quickly, a title this season may become out of reach sooner rather than later.
Lack Of Variety Offensively
If the Magic loss shows anything, it shows how little variety the Sixers’ offense has even with Embiid’s return. Once the game returned from halftime, it was quickly seen how basic the Sixers’ offense looked. It seemed that most possessions resulted in McCain having to create his own shot, the Sixers forcing the ball to Embiid in the post, or a forced three at the end of the shot clock.
The heavy reliance on McCain was especially on display in this loss. After McCain fouled out, the Sixers would struggle offensively, scoring only six points in the last five minutes. With Philly trying to force the ball to a rusty Embiid, many possessions ended with McCain making something out of nothing. McCain wound up scoring 15 of the Sixers’ 27 3rd quarter points. Forcing the offense to revolve around Embiid, who’s not yet 100%, only does more harm.
Lack of Three Point Shooting
The three-point shot has been an issue for Philly since the start of the season. For a team that was thought to have improved their three-point shooting with their offseason acquisitions, that has not been the case. The Sixers sit at 29th in 3-point percentage, shooting an awful 32.3% on almost 37 attempts a night. Part of the reason for Philly’s struggles is their inability to rely on their three-point shot. When the Sixers pressure the rim and create on looks from three, they haven’t capitalized. Most of the three-point success they have seen has come from McCain’s constant movement without the ball. Not having to defend the three allows them to focus on denying Embiid and stacking up in the paint. For the Sixers, that seems to disrupt most of their offense.
The three-point shooting, as well as their stale offense in the second half, has put the Sixers in this position. As the Sixers await the return of Tyrese Maxey, the immediate future looks grim. Embiid is back, but he clearly has some rust to knock off. Rising from their 2-10 record is only possible if the Sixers can close games out when it matters. If Philly has any hope of keeping this season from falling apart, their second half execution needs to improve.
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