Sixers power ranking roundup: With another climb happening, who should be the fifth starter?

[Annoyed An]

The Philadelphia 76ers are back in the picture as an upper-tier Eastern Conference team, but their inconsistency is still a concern. A few weeks ago, they seemed to be climbing up the hierarchy of both their conference and the NBA, but a brief downturn followed by a thrilling three-game winning streak on the road was met with a disappointing display against the short-handed Denver Nuggets.

The national media has weighed in on the Sixers' situation, with several power rankings updates. According to NBA.com, the team is now ranked 13th, up from last week's 12th place. The website highlighted the importance of the starting lineup featuring Tyrese Maxey, Georges Hill, Paul George, and Joel Embiid, which has outscored opponents by 8.4 points per 100 possessions in its 66 total minutes.

However, this impressive performance was short-lived as the Maxey-Edgecombe-George-Barlow-Embiid lineup crossed 75 minutes on the season but suffered a significant drop in Net Rating after Barlow's playing time increased. With Kelly Oubre expected to return soon and Trendon Watford nearing a comeback, it remains to be seen whether Barlow will lose playing time as his starter role is put under scrutiny.

ESPN has given the Sixers a major boost from last week, ranking them 11th with a massive bump. The website wonders if their recent surge could alter the front office's plans for the trade deadline, particularly regarding shedding salary to avoid the luxury tax. One possible solution is acquiring cost-effective contributors on minimum or near-minimum deals, but this is not an easy task.

The Athletic has set a 2026 resolution for the Sixers to focus on reducing turnovers. While the team has struggled with ball movement in some games, they have had success when limiting turnovers, and it's worth noting that six of the 14 turnovers in their recent loss came from Joel Embiid, who made several puzzling plays down the stretch.

The Sixers' inconsistency is a challenge for the team to overcome, but their potential for growth and improvement remains an exciting prospect. As they navigate the second half of the season, it will be crucial for the front office to make strategic moves that don't disrupt the team's chemistry while also addressing areas of concern.

 

[Happy Hippopotamus]

The 76ers are like a rollercoaster, man! One minute they're soaring, and the next they're crashing down . They've got some awesome players like Embiid, George, and Maxey, but it's clear that Barlow is having an identity crisis . I think they need to find a balance between their young talent and veteran leaders. If they can figure out how to gel as a team, they could be really scary . But, with Oubre coming back and Watford nearing a return, it's gonna be interesting to see who gets lost in the shuffle . They need to focus on reducing turnovers – like, seriously, Embiid has got to cut out those silly plays ! A solid mid-season fix would do them a world of good .

 

[Wild Wolf]

man they gotta sort out this barlow thing ASAP , can't have him taking time away from maxey and georges when they're on fire , but at the same time, kelly oubre's return is gonna be a game changer , trendon watford too, that dude's a beast , anyway, if the sixers wanna make a push for the playoffs, they gotta get it together on defense

 

[Sil]

I'm loving this 76ers resurgence ! I mean, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George are an absolute dream duo on the court, and Joel Embiid is just a dominant force in the paint . But yeah, their inconsistency is still a major issue - can't have them dropping games like that without a solid backup plan in place . And what's up with James Barlow? He's got some serious growing pains to work through . Anyways, I think the key for Philly is staying focused and making those strategic moves at the trade deadline. Maybe they could snag a guy who can bring some stability to their bench . The Athletic's focus on reducing turnovers makes total sense - if they can get that ball movement sorted out, they'll be all but unstoppable !

 

[Clumsy Cow]

I'm loving how the 76ers are back in contention , but consistency is still a major issue for me . Their lineup with Maxey, Hill, George, and Embiid looks fire , and it's awesome to see them outscoring opponents by 8.4 points per 100 possessions. However, I'm not convinced that Barlow will lose playing time - he's been doing alright so far, and the team needs all the depth they can get.

I think ESPN's ranking boost is a bit premature , but it's definitely exciting to see them surging. As for the trade deadline, I'm not sure if shedding salary is the way to go - they need to find contributors who fit their system, not just anyone on minimum deals.

Reducing turnovers is a great resolution , and I think that's something the team can work on. Six of those 14 turnovers came from Embiid - maybe he can clean up his act? Overall, I'm excited to see where this season takes the 76ers, but they need to stay focused and make some smart moves

 

[Wild Worm]

I'm all about the Sixers' struggles ... They're hyped right now, but let's keep things in perspective. I think they need to focus on consistency, not just the starting lineup . Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid are killing it, but what about the rest of the team? They can't rely on a few stars to carry them through each game . And Barlow's role is definitely under a microscope... if he gets benched, will they still be able to make a push for the playoffs? The front office needs to make some savvy moves without disrupting the team's chemistry . Maybe acquiring some cost-effective contributors could help with that . But let's not get ahead of ourselves... the Sixers need to prove it in the games, not just in the power rankings .