That was a whirlwind.
If it seems like the regular season just started, well, that’s because it kind of did. Due to the ongoing ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic, the start of the season was pushed back about two months from its normal late October beginning to Christmas Day. But the league wants to return to its normal schedule as soon as next season, so this year will be a 72-game sprint as opposed to the normal 82-game marathon.
And so, here we are. Just over a month after the first tip-off, we are already at the quarter pole. The Sixers played their 18th game of the season on Monday night. Overall, it’s been a solid first lap, albeit slightly underwhelming. The Sixers sit atop the Eastern Conference at 12-6, but that’s no different from the mark they posted through as many games last season. They also rank just 8th in the league in net rating at +2.9, and the only victories they have over a team with a winning record came in back-to-back contests against a Boston Celtics team that was without its best player in Jayson Tatum. Philadelphia is also once again struggling on the road (3-5) and without Joel Embiid (winless in 4 games).
But enough of that. How have the players performed so far on an individual basis? 17 players have seen game action at some point for the Sixers so far. Let’s get the red pen and give out some grades…
Tony Bradley, C
Grade: C
Tony Bradley came over in the trade that ended 2018 first round pick Zhaire Smith’s tenure in Philadelphia. After signing Dwight Howard in the offseason and perhaps figuring to give Ben Simmons some burn at center, Bradley has been seen spot duty in 6 games as a depth piece. The fourth-year big has acclimated himself quite well in that role, with gaudy per-36-minute averages of 14.0 points, 16.8 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks, and the team’s net rating actually improves with him on the floor.
Still, there’s a reason he’s only seen action in a third of the game’s contests—he has no stretch to his game (3 career threes in 818 minutes) and doesn’t move the wall with any confidence (28 assists to 34 turnovers in those same minutes), and he isn’t exactly the most advanced shot creator. As for as 3rd-string centers go, he’s solid, but he’s still a 3rd string center.
Seth Curry, SG
Grade: A
The only thing keeping Seth Curry’s grade from being an A+ is his absence in seven games due to COVID-19. Otherwise, he’s been exactly what the Sixers envisioned when they dealt Josh Richardson and a 2nd round pick. He has been a brilliant puzzle piece in the starting lineup scoring 15.6 points per game with his historically great shooting (second all-time in 3P% at 44.8, even better this year at 53.7 on 4.9 attempts). He’s also been lethal inside the arc (58.2%) and has been perfect in 21 attempts form the free throw line.
It isn’t just the shooting splits, though. Curry has been effective in moving the ball (33-to-16 assists to turnovers), and though by no means an All-Defense candidate, the Sixers team defense is stingier with Curry on the court. Overall, the 30-year-old has been exactly what the Sixers asked for.
Joel Embiid, C
Grade: A+
The Sixers destroy worlds when Joel Embiid is on the court, and struggle to compete with most lottery teams when he's not. He's scoring more efficiently than ever (career-high 27.7 points per game on a stellar 55.4/40.5/83.3 shooting slash), his defense is unimpeachable, and he has looked spry and engaged game after game. Perhaps his significance can be summed up with this: the Sixers are 12-2 when he plays, and winless in the four contests he has missed. In many ways, his impact is the same as it's ever been, but it just feels different this year. Not much more needs to be said that hasn't been already.
Terrance Ferguson, SG
Grade: Incomplete
Terrance Ferguson came over in the deal with the Thunder that shed Al-Horford's onerous contract from the Sixers ledger. He hasn't seen much game action (22 minutes across six appearances) because of injuries and roster depth, and he wasn't particularly effective in that sparse time (scoreless, one rebound and two assists). The 22-year-old was the 21st pick in the 2017 NBA draft largely thanks to his explosive athleticism and physical tools, but he hasn't gotten much of a chance.
So in fairness to him and the theoretical potential he does have and the flashes he's shown before (74 starts and a 36.1 3P% during the 2018-2019 season), he gets an 'incomplete' in lieu of an 'F.'
Danny Green, SF
Grade: B
In his age-33 season, Danny Green is no longer the two-way standout he was at his peak. He remains a rock solid 3-and-D starter on the wing, however, and there is no doubting the intangibles he brings as a 3-time NBA champion with 145 career playoff games under his belt. The 12-year veteran is averaging 9.1 points on 36.5% from downtown, and is the only Sixers starter to have appeared in every game. And it's probably unwise to heckle him.
Tobias Harris, PF
Grade: A-
A cursory glance at Tobias Harris' per game numbers from last year to this year might incite all complaints about his enormous contract all over again. In nearly the same court time (34.3 minutes per game last year, 33.5 this year), his scoring, (19.6 and 19.8), rebounding (6.7 and 6.9) and playmaking (3.2 and 2.8) are all virtually unchanged from a season ago.
But that doesn't tell the whole story. Without having to be pigeonholed into the 3 to make room for Horford, Harris just looks so much more comfortable as full-time 4. Much like Embiid, his shooting splits are all career highs (51.8/45.8/85.7), and he's also engaging on the defensive end like never before (1.9 combined blocks and steals per game, his best ever). The money still doesn't sit right as Harris' ceiling sits several stories below stardom, but give credit where it's due--he's had a great year.
Dwight Howard, C
Grade: B-
Dwight Howard is years removed from perennial All-Star, All-NBA, and All-Defensive days. There's a reason the now 35-year-old (where did the time go?) former 3-time Defensive Player of the Year is suiting up for his sixth team in as many seasons. It doesn't help that the game has changed drastically over that time frame--bigs who can't space the floor, switch onto the perimeter in a pinch, or make plays for others are hardly building block material.
But that's not what's asked of him, and to his credit he has transitioned into the reserve portion of his career gracefully. So it goes with the Sixers--in a modest 17.8 minutes per game, Howard is producing 6.5 points and 7.9 rebounds, and he is still a stout presence at the rim. Now if only he got some love from the officials...
Isaiah Joe, SG
Grade: C+
I might be being a little generous with this one. After all, Joe, the Sixers' 49th selection from the 2020 draft, has only gotten into 10 games, and apart from the 3 games when the team was severely shorthanded due to health and safety protocols, he hasn't cleared 20 minutes in a single contest. Hell, he's only 36.2% from the field. But after missing his first five 3-point attempts, over the last six games he played in, Joe drained 41.5% on 6.8 tries a night. Plus, he seemed to at least not be completely overmatched defensively.
When Furkan Korkmaz returned from an injury, Joe was supplanted from the rotation, but if the former struggles to find his shot like he has been, keep an eye on this rookie.
Furkan Korkmaz, SG
Grade: D-
Speak of the devil...
It's been a rough go for the Turkish guard. An adductor strain cost Korkmaz 11 games, and he wasn't really in rhythm before that. On the year, Korkmaz is below 32% from both inside and outside the arc. No bueno for someone who doesn't really add value anywhere else. The only thing that kept him from a failing grade was this. Everyone gets one, right?
Dakota Mathias, SG
Grade: D
Oh, Dakota Mathias. We hardly knew ye. The 25-year-old rookie was playing on a two-way contract and was recently waived. In 8 games, Mathias supplied 6.0 points on 39.6/30.8/33.3 in 15.4 minutes. He did start two games, again when the Sixers were without all of the players ever. But like Korkmaz, he had his moment; the reason he gets a half-grade higher? It was a game-winner.
Tyrese Maxey, SG
Grade: B
Like a few others mentioned on this list, as the Sixers grew to full-strength, Tyrese Maxey has seen his role shrink--after getting 21.6 minutes of action per game through his first 14 games, he's down to 15.1 over his last four. In three of those games, he has scored 0, 2, and 2 points, a far cry from the six straight double-digit performances--five of which included 15 points or more--that directly came before that stretch.
You know what though? This kid can ball. He dropped 39 on 54.5% shooting in his tenth career game--and first career start! For a 20-year-old rookie, his bag is deep--he changes pace extremely well, is quick to pull up and fire, and has a nasty little floater. His defensive tools-- solid 200-lb frame and a 6'8" wingspan--are promising as well. Just another Kentucky guard that plays with a fearlessness that is infectious and so fun to watch. The Sixers got a good one.
Shake Milton, SG
Grade: B+
A recent slump (10.0 points per game on 33.3/33.3/100.0 over his last four) knocks Shake Milton's grade out of the 'A' range, but it has undeniably been a breakout year for the 24-year-old. In fact, over the 7-game stretch immediately preceding that bump in the road, Milton averaged 20.6 points on 54.3% shooting and added 4.9 assists. He has taken over the 6th man role and run away with it, showcasing the explosive shot making ability and foul drawing craft (a well above average 36.4% free throw rate). He might have his ups and downs, but the eye test shows a confidence and swagger that is here to stay.
Vincent Poirier, C
Grade: Incomplete
Sorry, I have to cop out of this one too. Like Ferguson, Vincent Poirier simply hasn't gotten enough run to warrant an evaluation (14 total minutes). Health and safety protocols haven't helped, but he figures to be buried in the rotation behind Embiid and Howard and even Tony Bradley as a pure-5 regardless.
Paul Reed, PF
Grade: C-
Paul Reed is on a two-way contract and will be heading to Delaware for the G-League season. In five games, he averaged 3.6 points, 2.0 rebounds, and .8 blocks in 11.0 minutes. Not a great deal was expected at the NBA level for the 2020 second round pick and not a great deal was received, but at 6'9", 210 pounds with a 7'2" wingspan, Reed has some tools worth developing.
Mike Scott, PF
Grade: F
The Sixers have a hole behind Tobias Harris at the power forward spot on their roster. Unfortunately, Mike Scott has been unable to fill it. Scott has missed ten games with injuries, and the 8 games he has gotten into have not been pretty. Ostensibly a stretch-four, Scott's 3-point shot has failed him this year (25.0% on 4.5 attempts), and when he's not having a defensive impact, he's really just the equivalent of an enforcer in the NHL--he brings an element of toughness and physicality to the court, but that's not reason enough to play him.
Ben Simmons, PG
Grade: B-
Ben Simmons was far and away the most difficult player on the team to grade. On the one hand, he has never shot (8.8 shot attempts per game) or scored less (12.8 points), and he looks less aggressive than ever. His efficiency inside the arc (54.1%) is also the worst it's ever been, and despite the lowest usage (19.1%) of his career, he's turning it over at the highest clip he ever has (24.9%). One of the biggest complaints about Simmons--apart from the whole shooting thing--has been his lack of improvement from year-to-year, but prior to this season he had never seemed to actively regress.
But on the other hand, the lesser offensive responsibility seems to be in deference to never-better Joel Embiid. The two seem to possess level of chemistry they never had before. Embiid even said as much. Additionally, Simmons has looked even sharper on defense than he did last year, when he made All-Defense first team. He is engaged on every possession and always a threat to get his hands on the ball, and he is one of the very few who truly can guard every position on the floor.
Also, let's just be real--Simmons is simply great player as is. He's adding 8.4 rebounds and 7.9 assists and disappointing people. The guy is a ridiculous talent, and still only 24. Put all that together, and the B- feels right.
Matisse Thybulle, SG
Grade: D+
This sort of feels like the opposite of how I graded Isaiah Joe--I might be coming down to hard on Matisse Thybulle. He is, after all, only in his second year, and his minutes have been inconsistent as Doc Rivers figures out his ideal rotation. But...3.0 points on 33.3/24.2/60.0 shooting splits in 15.2 minutes per game? Thybulle wasn't ever expected to be an offensive dynamo, but that...yuck.
At least his offensive struggles have not impacted his menacing defense, which bolstered his grade. The 6'5" wing is collecting 2.8 steals and 1.7 blocks per 36 minutes, which is extraordinary. He legitimately has All-Defense upside with room to spare. But he'll never get more than spot minutes if he makes every offensive possession a 4-on-5.