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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
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Overall

Jimmy Butler didn’t take his foot off the gas when the Heat essentially ran the Philadelphia 76ers off the court on Monday. And just like that, the organization has to face the hard truth; There isn’t a world in today’s NBA where you can consistently thrive without some form of balanced offense.

The absences of Butler and J.J. Redick this year haven’t gone unnoticed. In fact, it’s noticed after each loss.

Fans quarrel about the lack of a quality scoring weapon. It’s clear that what the Sixers received out of these two guards in the past is what they are dearly missing in some of these losses  — a spark plug on the offensive side and remedy for any lineup conundrum.

Josh Richardson can be very effective at times at shooting guard, and as a ball handler. But what leaves fans in dismay is his lack of killer instinct that was seen in Butler last year playing the same role. Even Redick, in his own right, bailed the team out considerably with his jumper. Sure, there were times he was picked on defensively during his Philly tenure by quick opposing guards, but when it came down to it, he was often the only player the Sixers could lean on for points in late-game scenarios.

Butler was another weapon — a volume scorer, aggressive for 48 minutes and kept defenses dangerously on their heels no matter where the ball was in the half court. In a way, that is what the organization hoped Richardson would adopt in the blink of an eye this year. The when and if he can is something the Sixers are going to have to figure out sooner than later, especially with the likelihood that the starting lineup will stay static for the rest of 2020.

So yes, it’s not easy trying to make excuses for this team. The Philadelphia 76ers dove into the regular season as the second favorite behind the Bucks to win the East. And yet, here they sit at the start of February struggling to find something, anything close to an identity. If all it takes is a requisite move or moves in order to make that happen, so be it.

One thing’s for sure: It wasn’t supposed to look like this.