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Philadelphia 76ers: Pre-NBA trade deadline observations

By Derek Hryn

MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 28: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the game against the Miami Heat on December 28, 2019 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Oscar Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - DECEMBER 28: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on during the game against the Miami Heat on December 28, 2019 at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Oscar Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Philadelphia 76ers
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

As the Philadelphia 76ers’ stunning woes continue, here are a few observations on the eve of the 2020 NBA Trade Deadline.

If the NBA handed out a midseason award for the most disappointing franchise in the 2019-20, odds are the Philadelphia 76ers would take the cake.

While general manager Elton Brand has delivered on his promise of putting a title-contending roster on the floor, the results have just been flat-out befuddling, and there is no reason to sugarcoat it. The Sixers are coming off a three-game skid that concluded with arguably their worst performance of the season in their 137-106 blowout loss to the Miami Heat on Monday.

If the postseason started today, head coach Brett Brown and Co. would find themselves in TD Garden for a Game 1 matchup with the Boston Celtics, who are currently playing far better basketball than they were last year with All-Star guard Kemba Walker leading the charge. The Philadelphia 76ers have shown that they can be better than their current standing, and a great home win against the Los Angeles Lakers last week was proof. The problem: That squad hasn’t been seen nearly enough.

But these Philadelphia 76ers — lethargic on the road (9-18) and identity-less at home (22-2) — are not going to make it out of the Eastern Conference. Not to mention, when referring to a team comprised of defense, hearing a word like “soft” out of your All-Star point guard in the postgame is never a good thing.

The argument could be made that to this point, the only legitimate highlight of the team’s season — most notably for the starting group —was watching everything click on both ends all four quarters in their dominating victory against the Milwaukee Bucks in December. But the allure of bulldozing the NBA’s best on Christmas Day is now a distant memory.

With some of the recent struggles in mind, here are a few quick observations before Thursday’s trade deadline at 3 p.m. ET.