NBA: Underperformers and overachievers for Week 16

Underperformers: Philadelphia 76ers

Just when it looked like the Philadelphia 76ers had turned a corner as a franchise, they run into a roadblock — the latest one being a three-game losing streak. The Sixers were playing well in the month of January, but recently they’ve struggled.

They finished January with a 7-5 record but their most recent loss exposed a few chinks in the armor. Philadelphia fell 116-108 to the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night. The Nets have a 19-33 record but it didn’t stop them from giving Philly all it could handle. Spencer Dinwiddie and D’Angelo Russell combined for 49 points to spoil J.J. Redick‘s return to the starting lineup.

Redick combined with big man Joel Embiid and rookie Ben Simmons to score 73 points in the losing effort. The loss puts the Philadelphia 76ers at 24-24 in the East, sitting at eighth in the conference standings. They are currently 12-12 against the Eastern Conference this season.

Robert Covington continues his slumping ways. In their latest loss, Covington finished with an offensive rating of 118.8 and a defensive rating of 135.3 for a net rating of -16.5. There are other holes on the roster (like the bench) but Covington remains a weak link nonetheless.