The Philadelphia 76ers are slowly gaining traction in the NBA power rankings, with three major outlets now bumping their ranking up from last week's 17th place. While skepticism still lingers about the team's size and overall roster makeup, an impressive defensive resurgence has been a key factor in this shift.
According to John Schuhmann at NBA.com, the Sixers have significantly improved defensively over the past six games, allowing just 105.1 points per 100 possessions – second-best in the league during that stretch. Although their recent defensive surge has come against relatively weaker opponents, the team's cohesion and focus have been evident throughout games.
However, ESPN's writers still highlight the Sixers' biggest weakness: interior size. The team's reliance on guard-heavy lineups without Joel Embiid, even when he's playing, raises questions about how they'll defend against taller opponents like LeBron James. During Sunday's loss to the Lakers, James took advantage of the lack of size in the paint, muscling his way past the Sixers' defenders.
In contrast, The Athletic's Law Murray praises Tyrese Maxey as a standout performer, deserving an A for his individual efforts so far this season. With an impressive blend of volume, efficiency, durability, and motor, Maxey has been a valuable asset to the team on both ends of the court. His impact has been significant enough that the team's overall performance earns a solid B grade.
While the Sixers' defensive strides are a promising sign, concerns about their interior size and roster balance remain. Coach Nick Nurse's decision to play smaller lineups without strong rim protection will be a test of his coaching acumen going forward. For now, though, the team's improved defense has given them a slight boost in the power rankings, with all three outlets now ranking them 15th or better.
According to John Schuhmann at NBA.com, the Sixers have significantly improved defensively over the past six games, allowing just 105.1 points per 100 possessions – second-best in the league during that stretch. Although their recent defensive surge has come against relatively weaker opponents, the team's cohesion and focus have been evident throughout games.
However, ESPN's writers still highlight the Sixers' biggest weakness: interior size. The team's reliance on guard-heavy lineups without Joel Embiid, even when he's playing, raises questions about how they'll defend against taller opponents like LeBron James. During Sunday's loss to the Lakers, James took advantage of the lack of size in the paint, muscling his way past the Sixers' defenders.
In contrast, The Athletic's Law Murray praises Tyrese Maxey as a standout performer, deserving an A for his individual efforts so far this season. With an impressive blend of volume, efficiency, durability, and motor, Maxey has been a valuable asset to the team on both ends of the court. His impact has been significant enough that the team's overall performance earns a solid B grade.
While the Sixers' defensive strides are a promising sign, concerns about their interior size and roster balance remain. Coach Nick Nurse's decision to play smaller lineups without strong rim protection will be a test of his coaching acumen going forward. For now, though, the team's improved defense has given them a slight boost in the power rankings, with all three outlets now ranking them 15th or better.
I mean, think about it, back in the day when Allen Iverson was playing for Philly, the team wasn't always stacked with size and talent like it is now. But Iverson's game was all about scoring and creating, you know? And that's exactly what Tyrese Maxey is doing this season - he's a modern-day version of Iverson, but on defense too! 
I'm not saying they're perfect, but the Sixers' defensive resurgence is definitely something to be excited about. Plus, it's not like they were getting destroyed by every team, you know? They've held their own against some tough opponents and that's gotta count for something 
they've been on fire lately and it's amazing to see the defensive resurgence. I mean, who would've thought Joel Embiid wouldn't be able to take on LeBron James alone? 
but seriously, Tyrese Maxey is a game-changer! his skills are insane and he deserves that A all over again 
, and it's awesome to see Tyrese Maxey killing it on both ends of the court 
. But if they can figure out a way to balance those guard-heavy lineups without sacrificing defense, I think they've got a good shot at making some noise in the playoffs 
!
, but gotta agree that size is still a major concern 
, and if the sixers can find a way to protect the paint without gonna be a issue. coach nurse gotta make some tough decisions on who sits and who plays, but i think he's got this 
still love tyrese maxey though, he's a beast on both ends of the court 
. I think their interior size is actually an advantage! They're forcing teams to play more perimeter-focused games which can lead to open 3-point shots and easy buckets for guys like Maxey and Tobias Harris. And let's be real, Joel Embiid is still a beast even when he's not playing. The Sixers are getting by with their guard-heavy lineups because they've got the talent and chemistry to make it work 
. I'm also loving Coach Nurse's willingness to experiment with smaller lineups – it shows he's not afraid to take risks and try new things 
. I mean, allowing 105.1 points per 100 possessions? That's crazy good 
, but I think Coach Nurse is doing a great job of making adjustments on the fly. And hey, it's not like they're not getting any love from me - at least the power rankings are finally recognizing their defensive prowess 
. The defensive improvement is definitely a plus, but interior size is still a concern 
COACH NURSE NEEDS TO GET CREATIVE WITH HIS LINEUPS AND FIND WAYS TO OUTSMART THEIR OPPONENTS. STILL, IT'S EXCITING TO SEE THE SEVENTHERS START TO COME INTO FORM! 
. I mean, Joel Embiid is a beast, but they're still figuring out ways to deal with those taller guys in the league