6. Philadelphia 76ers (39-26)
Grade: C+
The Philadelphia 76ers feel like that ex-girlfriend you know isn’t good for you but yet you can’t seem to let go of them. They are receiving a C+ because of the expectations that were put on them at the beginning of the season. They have underachieved up til now but their record does not indicate just how dominant they can be.
With Kawhi Leonard departing from the East, the two teams that were expected to now dominate and fight for the top spot were the Milwaukee Bucks and the Philadelphia 76ers. Instead, the Bucks have held up their end of the bargain and 76ers wouldn’t even have homecourt in the first round of the playoffs if the season were to end today.
Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons just don’t seem to function very well together consistently because both of their skill sets require them to dominate down low. As of now, Tobias Harris looks severely overpaid, leaving fans wondering why they didn’t try harder to keep Jimmy Butler. Brett Brown doesn’t seem to get the best out of his players and there are nights where the 76ers look terrible, especially on the road.
With that being said, when playing their best basketball, they are easily one of the most dominant teams in the league. With a record of 29-2 on their home floor, they’ve dominated team like the Milwaukee Bucks, LA Clippers and the Los Angeles Lakers, showing that they are one of the best teams in the league when focused. On the contrary, they’re an abysmal 10-24 on the road and with their current seeding, would have to go on the road for the playoffs. The 76ers are the epitome of inconsistency which is why they received the grade that they have but due to their size, ability to play defense, and overall potential, they are not a team you’d want to see in the playoffs.