The Sixers are off to a decent start depending on which fan you ask. They are 3-2, and while they haven't looked impressive in any win, their only losses are to the Nets and the Knicks. With no Ben Simmons for the foreseeable future, many potential problems could've arrived for the Sixers. Who would be the starting point guard? Who is going to guard the opposing team's best player for 30 minutes? Will the off-season drama affect the chemistry to begin the season? Yet, the biggest problem for the Sixers is that the Eastern Conference got better while the Sixers have gotten worse.
If Ben Simmons was playing, I believe that this Sixers team is deeper and more experienced than last year's squad, but Ben Simmons is not playing, so right now, the Sixers are a worse basketball team today than the day they lost in game 7 to the Atlanta Hawks.
Here are all the teams that have improved from the last season. The Charlotte Hornets are 4-1, and Lamelo Ball looks like an All-Star in year two of his NBA career. Miles Bridges averages over 25 points per game, and the Hornets lead the NBA in points per game with just over 121.
The Chicago Bulls are trying to make the playoffs for the first time in six years, and with the acquisitions of Demar Derozan, Lonzo Ball, and Alex Caruso, they are off to a great start with a 4-1 record. There are not many starting lineups in the NBA that are better than the Bulls.
The Washington Wizards, who couldn't guard a statue last season, and with new HC Wes Unseld Jr., are 4-1 and looking good enough that Bradley Beal might never request a trade. So instead, they got younger acquiring Kyle Kuzma and Spencer Dinwiddie; both players fit nicely alongside Beal.
The New York Knick's most significant issue was guard scoring. They fixed that by getting Evan Fournier and Kemba Walker in free agency, and now they lead the NBA in 3-points made alongside that tenacious defense. They are a team that nobody wants to play and defeated the Sixers by a wide margin in their matchup on Tuesday night.
Lastly, the Miami Heat. After a disappointing playoff run last season, they acquired Kyle Lowry, PJ Tucker, and Markieff Morris. They are now running nine deep with their rotations; as a result, they lead the NBA in the following stats. Point differential (+15.2), points per game allowed (95.0), and rebounds per game (54.3).
I didn't mention how the Hawks are continuing to develop as they still have one of the best younger cores in the NBA. The Bucks are championship contenders, and Kyrie Irving is the only thing holding the Nets back from winning a championship. Yet, they still, vs. the Sixers, have the two best players on the floor with Kevin Durant and James Harden. I mean didn't even mention the Celtics, who we can never get past.
This doesn't mean the Sixers have to panic and trade Ben Simmons; the East will be more difficult whether he comes back or trade him. The worst part about it is realizing that all the doors opened for the Sixers last year and couldn't get the job done. The job somehow just got more complicated.
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