5 reasons the Philadelphia 76ers are playing poorly

PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 18: Head coach Brett Brown talks to Markelle Fultz #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers against the Chicago Bulls at the Wells Fargo Center on October 18, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 18: Head coach Brett Brown talks to Markelle Fultz #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers against the Chicago Bulls at the Wells Fargo Center on October 18, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
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Philadelphia 76ers
Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images

The Philadelphia 76ers were picked to be one of the top teams in the NBA before the season started. Here are five reasons they are playing like a mediocre team.

The Philadelphia 76ers were preseason favorites to compete with the Toronto Raptors and the Boston Celtics for the No. 1 seed in the NBA’s Eastern Conference.

The Toronto Raptors are 5-0 starring Kawhi Leonard. The Celtics are having some problems at 2-2, but they blew out the 76ers in the TD Garden to start the season. The Sixers are 2-3 and on the wrong side of the playoff cut right now.

It is way too early to panic, but there seems to be some real problems with the 76ers. Some will fix themselves. Others have to be addressed now or they will linger through this season and possibly seasons to come.

In all, there are five glaring reasons the 76ers are looking more like a pretender than a contender.