In this analytics-driven period of the NBA, the 3-point shot has become a focal point of how many teams run their offense. Some may lean into the numbers more than others, but the deep ball is now the most important it has ever been. One team the 3-point shot is crucial for is the Philadelphia 76ers.

Being centered around a dominant big man like Joel Embiid, proper spacing is essential. We have seen in years past how hard life can be for the All-Star center when there is a logjam around the rim.

Since being brought in to run the front office, Daryl Morey has put a strong focus on perimeter shooting. He has brought in a plethora of 3-point specialists to flank Embiid, including Seth Curry, Danny Green, and Georges Niang. Even with this group, the Sixers have struggled greatly from deep in their recent stretch.

When the Sixers started the year strong, their 3-point shooting was a major catalyst. They led the league in terms of percentage, and defenses were unable to throw multiple bodies at Embiid. Since then, it has been a completely different story.

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Over their last seven games, the Sixers rank last in the NBA in 3-point percentage at 27.8%. Throughout the entire regular season, their 34.4% shooting from beyond the arc is good for 17th in the league. After the Sixers' matchup with the Atlanta Hawks Thursday, Tobias Harris opened on the team's recent shooting woes.

“We've struggled from 3 as a group, and that hurts us. Including myself, I've struggled from 3 all year. But you got to figure out ways to get out of it and find a rhythm and a balance. One thing I do say is that you still have to take those looks in the midst of whatever may be going on in your own head,” said Harris.

Not only does Harris take accountability for his shortcomings this season, but he also made a great point. Even with this team-wide cold spell from deep, the Sixers cannot let it deter them from getting the attempts up. They are already near the bottom of the league in 3-point attempts per game, and that number has dropped since these struggles began.

The only way to break out of a cold spell is to keep shooting. Plus, when they aren't posing a threat from deep, it makes things much more difficult for the guy down low. There have been multiple instances now where opponents have dropped into a zone and halted the Sixers' offense. Embiid is the main piece of the offense that everything else revolves around. When opposing defenses can shrink the floor, it hinders his game.

There is no denying 3-point shooting has become a growing concern with each passing game for the Sixers. If they want any chance of getting back on track, getting out of this funk is step one.