Duncan: The Sixers have been outscored by 82.9 points per 100 possessions in the last five minutes of games in which they have led or trailed by five or fewer points. What on earth is happening to the Sixers late in close games?
George: It’s a mix of a couple of key factors that may seem fixable for a team who is not intentionally trying to be the worst team in the league, but it’s Sixers talk so here we go: Lack of experience, underwhelming talent, no true point guard, and some questionable coaching.
The youngest team in NBA history is bound to commit costly turnovers late in games, and it has already cost them a number of games this season. Having a guy at point guard in Isaiah Canaan, who is a catch and shoot two-guard in a point guard’s body, has shown why it is so important to have a dynamic floor general running the team.
With that said, head coach Brett Brown has to put more faith in his scheme, rather than his players individually. For example, in a recent one possession loss to the Denver Nuggets, Brown subbed in Canaan as the point guard in the final possession, although he had been playing exceptionally well at the shooting guard position all game.
The play called for Canaan was an iso, which led to a wild layup and another heartbreaking, eye-tearing, and punch-your-television-set Sixers loss.
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