Through their first five games of the season, the Philadelphia 76ers sit at a record of 3-2. At this stage, there is no reason to rush to the panic button. That said, here are three way-too-early overreactions from the Sixers this season.
1) Danny Green struggling on both ends
When the Sixers re-signed Danny Green in the offseason, many applauded the move from Daryl Morey. Retaining the three-time champion was certainly the correct decision, but Green has not started the season on a high note.
In five games, Green is just 5.8 points per game. His lowest scoring mark since his second season in the league. After shooting over 40% from beyond the arc on good volume last year, the three-and-D has started the 2021 campaign shooting league average (36%).
With Ben Simmons out of the lineup, Green has had to take on a bigger responsibility defensively. The extra energy being exerted on defense now could be affecting his play on the other end.
Green had a bit of a slow start to last season as well. So his early numbers should not be a cause for concern. Guys that have been around as long as Green know how to get themselves going, and he will likely be looking like the player we saw last season in no time.
2) No point guard depth is hurting the Sixers' offense
The Sixers have done a pretty good job of filling the void Simmons has left, but there have been multiple instances where they have missed the services of the former number one pick.
One area they have missed Simmons most is ballhandling. Having no other point guard on the roster has been an issue at times while they wait for the 25-year-old to make his return to action. Tyrese Maxey has done his best filling in at point guard, but that development in his game is still a work in progress.
It was clear in the matchup against the Knicks that having makeshift point guards is a glaring weakness. When defenses can pressure the backcourt, guys like Maxey and Furkan Korkmaz struggle greatly. There is still time to remedy this, but it is a big thing to keep an eye on as the season progresses.
3) Joel Embiid carrying way too much of the load for Sixers
Throughout his entire career, Joel Embiid has never been able to escape the injury bug. It has once again reared its ugly head this season, as the MVP runner-up has battled knee soreness after a collision in the season-opener against the Pelicans.
Despite the injury, Embiid has taken the court in every game this season. He continues to be a leader for the Sixers on and off the floor. While the All-Star center should be applauded for his efforts, it begs the question of if he is taking too much on too soon.
Part of this is not his fault, as the Sixers need him now more than ever in light of Simmons' absence. If they want to remain near the top of the conference, Embiid's high-level play is a necessity on a nightly basis.
Seeing how visibly discomforted he was against the Knicks proved he is not 100% physically. Although the Sixers might need Embiid, they need to continue to act with the long view in mind. If they want to make a deep run in the postseason, they will need Embiid at his best physically when the playoffs begin.
The severity of this injury is still unknown, and his dominant performance against the Pistons showed it hasn't slowed him that much. Even if this is a non-issue, the Sixers need to proceed with caution when handling their franchise cornerstone. Riding him this early in the season could have negative effects later down the road.
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