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5 Things We Learned From Philadelphia 76ers Loss To Atlanta Hawks

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Despite a second consecutive Loss, Philadelphia 76ers have five takeaways from the Hawks to build upon

The Philadelphia 76ers are not a championship team. In fact, they would be overwhelmingly delighted to finish within sight of .500 this season. But for the second time in this fledgling NBA season, the 76ers have fallen.  This time, it was to an amazingly potent Atlanta Hawks team that put their foot on the throttle and never eased up, winning handily 104-72.

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The Philadelphia 76ers are a team that is struggling to find unity, cohesion, and rhythm on the basketball court simultaneously.  While many expected the minutes restrictions of Joel Embiid to limit his play, he has been responsible for one of the few bright spots of this team.

The major issue with the team is simply their unfamiliarity with one another.  This starting lineup did not play together at all throughout the preseason.  Injuries to the team have included Nerlens Noel, Jerryd Bayless, Gerald Henderson, Jahlil Okafor, Joel Embiid, and Ben Simmons.

While the team addressed the back court, much of the free agent action delivered less than game-ready veterans to the team.  Once more, head coach Brett Brown must patch up the lineup while wrapping his players in elastic bandages.

Once more, the team is sputtering out of the gates.

But whether loss or victory, the experience is both valuable and a lesson to learn.  Here are five such attributes to ponder:

Oct 26, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) punches the back post in reaction to his foul against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Oklahoma City Thunder won 103-97. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

TOP Takeaway:  Joel Embiid Is the Real Deal

Philadelphia fans endured scolding, beratement, and mis-aimed education for over two years as they have eagerly embraced the potential of their third selection from the 2014 NBA Draft.

But Joel Embiid did not adhere to that logic.  In fact, he has made it a point to remove any tethering of negative thought where he is concerned.

Yes, Joel Embiid is beginning the season on minutes restrictions.  Yes the team has lost its two games.  But the performance of newcomer Joel Embiid is undeniably impressive so far.  In fact, Joel Embiid gave another standout performance against the Atlanta Hawks and their all star center Dwight Howard.  Joel Embiid is the real deal, folks.

Why is he the real deal? He had a year at college as the only source of his organized basketball experience, and then sat for two seasons.  But despite the rust and cobwebs, he has delivered quality center production in his NBA rookie season so far.

Fans can only speculate at the upside of this team had Jerryd Bayless, Nerlens Noel, or even Ben Simmons been healthy enough to participate alongside Embiid. But with or without help, Embiid has delivered 17.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, .5 assists and .5 steals on an average court presence of just 19 minutes per game.  That converts to NBA All-Star when converted to a 36-minute NBA standard.

And that is just his first two games as he improves rapidly this season.

Oct 21, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Dario Saric (9) dribbles the ball against Miami Heat forward Derrick Williams (22) during the second half at American Airlines Arena. The Philadelphia 76ers defeat the Miami Heat 113-110. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Takeaway Two: (obviously) Dario Saric Is Struggling So Far

Dario Saric was one of the Philadelphia 76ers hottest shooters in the preseason. The preseason was a mirage, it seems, as the start of the NBA season marked a new facet of Saric’s game, one that is still a work in process. Averaging just five points per game while playing 26.5 minutes per game is officially struggling.

But there is reason to be patient here.  It was the injury to Ben Simmons that truly thrust Saric into a starting role of the Philadelphia 76ers.  He had come from Europe, flown to the USA (a new country) and taken on the role of power forward for the Philadelphia 76ers after a successful campaign in the 2016 Olympics.

In short, there is a very expected adjustment period happening right now.  Part of it is the realization that he’s finally “made it” to the NBA. He too had a two year hiatus following the 2014 NBA draft.

But part of it is the pressure the young man feels upon himself to deliver now and help carry the team before he has his own legs under him.  With Noel out and both Joel Embiid and Jahlil Okafor on minutes restrictions, Richaun Holmes has been diverted to filling center minutes for the team.  Meanwhile the team waived power forward Carl Landry and Elton Brand has retired once more.  That has forced the brunt of playing minutes to fall squarely upon Dario Saric.

But Saric has struggled before. In fact, it is his persistance, his resolve, to keep battling and play gigantic in large moments of the game which will endear him most to the Philadelphia 76ers fans. But for now? Patience.

Mar 12, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (5) looses control of the ball while being fouled by Philadelphia 76ers guard Nik Stauskas (11) and guard Hollis Thompson (31) during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Detroit Pistons won 125-111. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Takeaway Three: (surprise!) Hollis Thompson can play defense, Nik Stauskas can play offense.

In the third quarter, with the Philadelphia 76ers in desperate need of defense, Hollis Thompson delivered surprisingly persistent defense against Atlanta Hawks’ Kent Bazemore. While Bazemore is not a prolific scorer, the scrappy D from Thompson contributed to Bazemore’s ending the game at eight points, well below his 11.6 PPG average from a year ago.

It was a moment that might have parlayed into a momentum changer for the 76ers.  But it was not the night for positives.

Meanwhile, Nik Stauskas is coming off the bench in fine style so far this season. His 11.7 points per game is third best on a Philadelphia squad that is struggling offensively.

Neither veteran was guaranteed a spot on this team. In fact, the early success may have contributed to the team’s exercising the option on Nik Stauskas’ contract:

In the end, it comes down to playing the best five players. Before the start of the season, nobody expected the offensive output from Stauskas, nor the scrappy defense from Thompson.

Perhaps that is why we are not general managers of an NBA team.

Oct 29, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Sergio Rodriguez (14) drives toward the net during the second quarter of the game against the Atlanta Hawks at the Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-USA TODAY Sports

Takeaway Four: (Trend) Point guard position is still up for grabs, but hot-handed Sergio Rodriguez’s scoring is cementing his starting role with the team.

“El Chacho” Sergio Rodriguez delivered 14 points and 5 assists on 28 minutes.  He was projected deep on the depth chart, almost like an insurance policy, or even as a “in case of Emergency, break glass” feature of the team.

When Ben Simmons and Jerryd Bayless found themselves too injured to start the season, head coach Brett Brown broke the glass.  From that moment, Sergio Rodriguez has never looked back.

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Surprised?  Some are.  Some are not.  If you follow the Sixer Sense, you know we projected good things for the former point guard of Ream Madrid.  In fact, long before the team announced Jerryd Bayless as the starter at point guard, we had projected Rodriguez to be more ideal to this young team for the season.  His style of play is far more compatible with that of Ben Simmons, who will eventually take over team management when he returns to health.

So far this season, Rodriguez is averaging 13.0 points, 7.0 assists, and 4.0 rebounds per game.  His 50 percent shooting from the floor is third best on the team.  It’s early in the season, and the team awaits several key players.  But no position is more critical to develop a cohesive and successful unit on the court than the point position.  So far, the team must be pleased with the showing from Rodriguez.

Apr 4, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Robert Covington (33) shoots a three point shot over Charlotte Hornets guard Gerald Henderson (9) during the first half at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Takeaway Five: (Ouch!)  Philadelphia 76ers starting wings are crippling this team.

Gerald Henderson at shooting guard and Robert Covington at small forward were hoped to excel at defense, and contribute enough offense to keep games interesting.  Both had track records of rising up to the occasion of the moment on defense. Both had tracked upwards on scoring in their careers.

Together? They would fix the Philadelphia 76ers broken wings.  Um.. it didn’t happen.

Into the third quarter the pair were a stymieing 0-10 with two rebounds, two assists, four steals on 38 minutes of game play. Pairing that with 57 minutes from game one and the pair have taken up 95 minutes to score 19 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 6 steals, and 4 turnovers.

While the pair performed somewhat up to expectations in game one – combining for 19 points while holding their opponents to just 11 – the roof came off in game two.  While neither Henderson nor Covington could find the basket, their counterparts for the Hawks did just fine – combining for 23 points. Particularly deadly was Kyle Korver’s three of four shooting from the perimeter, an Achilles Heel in the Philadelphia 76ers defense which Gerald Henderson was hoped to correct.

Head coach Brett Brown must be frustrated here. Hollis Thompson and Nik Stauskas, two players who struggled to make this roster, are playing better so far at shooting guard. While I know Brown likes to ride through rough patches with his players,  I would like to see the team  to ramp up minutes for both Jerami Grant and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot in the coming weeks.  Grant’s defense is excellent, and he has stronger in the offense this season.  Meanwhile TLC, while raw as a rookie, Is the scrappy in your face defense which could truly throw off the timing of the opposition.

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