76ers’ 9-3 start hides offensive struggles from stars: ‘We’ve just got to get better’
Nov 10, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) shoots against the Boston Celtics during the third quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
The 76ers have started the 2026-27 NBA season 9-3, marking the best record they have had in the first 12 games since the 2020-21, when they finished as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Yet, with that being said, are they really doing as well as advertised?
Defensively, the 76ers have been lights out. They are Top 10 in both defensive rating and opponent points per game, and have only allowed more than 109 points four times all season. However, offensively, the Sixers have shown major faults. Whether it is due to shot-chucking, selfishness, or another cause, it is clear that something in this offense is missing.
Even with allowing just 109 PPG, which ranks eighth in the NBA, the 76ers only have a +1 point differential. The seven teams above the 76ers have, on average, a +9.3 point differential.
This would be much less of an issue, if it was not for the star power within the 76ers lineup. The whole advertisement for the 76ers was their elite starting five, yet they are simultaneously scoring less points per game than last year.
A lot of this is due to efficiency, which was amplified in the 76ers’ 123-101 loss to the Boston Celtics Tuesday night. The Sixers shot 33-for-79 from the field, 41.8%, and 11-for-37, 29.7%, from three. Along with that, they turned the ball over nearly twice as much as the Celtics did.
“We’ve just got to get better,” Jaylen Brown said Tuesday night. “[Tuesday night] was humbling. We got outplayed, out-executed. So we go back to the drawing board and get ready for the next one.”
It has been clear all season that there is something off with this team, as all of these close wins are not sustainable. Even in the 76ers’ largest win against the Chicago Bulls, 126-107 on Nov. 2, the 76ers only led by five at halftime and 11 heading into the fourth quarter.
Against another title contender like the Celtics, late rallies are unreliable. Late in the third quarter, it seemed the 76ers had done it again, tying the game at 79 a piece. However, just seven minutes later, they were down 105-82, and were outscored 26-3 in that stretch.
“I think that we’ve got some guys that are obviously shooting much lower percentages than their last season or their career average — almost a handful of guys,” head coach Nick Nurse said. “And I don’t think it’s because they’re shooting fallaway, totally contested ones. I think they’re shots we want them to take. So I think they’ll continue to take ‘em and I’m pretty sure those will even out into their career averages.”
Lack of execution has been the 76ers’ motto all season, and it seems that their fall-back has been talent and talent alone.
Joel Embiid, one of the most talented big-men in NBA history, is off to one of the toughest starts to a season of his career. He has the lowest PPG, field goal percentage, and three-point percentage of his career, with 18, 37%, and 12%. Over his career, his 3P% is 34%, so this shows that his current FG% is almost less than his career 3P%.
“It’s a work in progress,” Embiid said. “I think the biggest thing is just not thinking. I’m probably overthinking it. The rhythm of the game is different. I’m so used to having to create for myself, so it’s a little bit different.
“But I think I’m slowly getting better. You could see as soon as I made a three, the next shot in the short corner … I didn’t even think about it. I just shot it and let it fly, and I made it. … I think it’s just about taking what’s in front of you. Make or miss, keep working on your game. It’s going to get there at some point.”
Although Embiid may be having a down year, that does not excuse the team’s overall struggles. The 76ers have also struggled offensively as a unit, ranking in the bottom seven in field goal percentage and the bottom 10 in three-point percentage. However, since they have done an exceptional job so far this year forcing turnovers, a large amount of this can be attributed to fast-break points and open looks. But these looks are not guaranteed, and with the Celtics only turning the ball over eight times, the results showed.
Nevertheless, starting 9-3 is an impressive feat, but there is a clear need for improvement in efficiency and offensive production, and if the 76ers want to reach the NBA Finals, there must be massive improvements on the offensive side of the ball.
Isaac Baranski
Isaac is a high school senior who currently attends the Hun School of Princeton. In his free time, he has many interests, but most of all is his love for Philadelphia sports. He has watched the 76ers since the days of Sam Hinkie and hopes to watch the process be completed. He has also watched the Phillies since the days of Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, and the great crew, and hopes to see Red October finally achieve its goal. Along with that, he picked up a love for the Philadelphia Union shortly before the pandemic and has seen them win multiple Supporters’ Shields in person. Lastly, and most importantly, he is a major football lover and an even bigger Eagles lover. Since developing his love for The Birds in elementary school, he has made it his goal to never miss a game.
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