The Sixers have jumped out of the gate to an 0-3 start. Not the ideal start for the Process Trusters. Many people are starting to push that panic button 3 games into the season and i’m here to tell you not to. Take that panic button and throw it in the trash because you are never going to need it. Here are some reasons for the slow start. No reason to panic.

• Tough Games: The Sixers opened up the first 3 games of the season against 3 of the top 4 teams in the East last year. I had the Sixers MAYBE winning one of these games. They had a chance to steal that opening night game against the Wiz. The inexperience down the stretch for a team still learning to play together took its toll. The Wizards backcourt completely took over the game in the 2nd half and the Sixers had to answer for it.
• Embiid looks tired: If you have been following this team in the offseason, Jojo didn’t play full court 5 on 5 until a few days before the season opener. Brett Brown came out and said his minutes will be restricted to the “teens” which is understandable considering not pushing him out of the gate because of conditioning. Embiid played over 25 minutes the 1st game of the year, completely eclipsing the minute restriction put on him. Toward the end of the Wizards game, you could tell he was tired and didn’t show that pop and want to on the defensive end. Against Boston, he was off the whole game. He was settling for jump shots, not posting anyone up, wasn’t showing the presence in the paint on defense, struggling to get up and down the court. Obviously he has some conditioning problems which is just going to take time playing to fix that.
• Meshing of the core: Name 1 team that has pretty much 3 rookies as the core of their team and jumped out of the gate as a playoff contender…. you can’t. Its going to take time for this team to mesh Simmons and Embiid in the starting lineup together. Its going to take some time for Dario to come off the bench and to learn to play with Fultz in the 2nd unit. Keep in mind there are 3 new starters in the starting lineup from last years team. Bayless, Redick and Simmons are going to have the learn to play off of Joel. Its a process that WILL work, it’s just going to take a little bit of time before this team starts steamrolling the Eastern Conference.
• Fultz: Yes, his foul shot looks like trash. I think that stems from his shoulder injury. He is going to be fine. He is 19 years old, he’s a born scorer and its going to take some time to get used to the speed of the NBA game. He 100% need to learn to play around the rim which he has had trouble getting his shot off and being swatted into the 10th row of the stands.

This team will be fine. Come mid November, i don’t think anybody is going to want to play this team.