With Paul George's 25-game suspension hanging over their heads, the Philadelphia 76ers are reaping the benefits. The team has responded to the setback by going 4-0 in the past five days, and they're set to enter the trade deadline with a season-high five-game winning streak.
But just how much of an impact will George's absence have on the Sixers' chances of reaching their goal? The answer may not be as straightforward as initially thought. According to statistical trends tracked by NBA.com, the 76ers are 7-2 when Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid share the floor without George, with a significant advantage in scoring efficiency.
This trend has raised questions among experts about how much the suspension will actually affect the team's win total. Zach Lowe posed the question on his podcast: "How much will George missing 25 games actually change the Sixers' win total by season's end?" The answer, it seems, is not as clear-cut as some may have anticipated.
For ESPN, the pressure on George when he returns in March will be intense. With just 10 games to ramp up for what Philadelphia hopes will be a deep playoff run, losing him for two months could exacerbate existing issues of consistency and rhythm. However, with practice and training sessions under their belts, George should return in good shape.
In a surprising twist, The Athletic's Law Murray has identified Kevin Love as a potential trade deadline acquisition for the 76ers. Acquiring Love would create an open roster spot that could be used to promote players like Dominick Barlow or Jabari Walker to standard contracts. While this may not seem like a priority given George's suspension, it could prove to be a necessary move if the team wants to build towards next season.
Ultimately, only time will tell how significant George's absence is going to be on the Sixers' chances of success. But one thing is certain: the team has already shown its resilience in the face of adversity and is poised to make some savvy moves before the deadline.
But just how much of an impact will George's absence have on the Sixers' chances of reaching their goal? The answer may not be as straightforward as initially thought. According to statistical trends tracked by NBA.com, the 76ers are 7-2 when Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid share the floor without George, with a significant advantage in scoring efficiency.
This trend has raised questions among experts about how much the suspension will actually affect the team's win total. Zach Lowe posed the question on his podcast: "How much will George missing 25 games actually change the Sixers' win total by season's end?" The answer, it seems, is not as clear-cut as some may have anticipated.
For ESPN, the pressure on George when he returns in March will be intense. With just 10 games to ramp up for what Philadelphia hopes will be a deep playoff run, losing him for two months could exacerbate existing issues of consistency and rhythm. However, with practice and training sessions under their belts, George should return in good shape.
In a surprising twist, The Athletic's Law Murray has identified Kevin Love as a potential trade deadline acquisition for the 76ers. Acquiring Love would create an open roster spot that could be used to promote players like Dominick Barlow or Jabari Walker to standard contracts. While this may not seem like a priority given George's suspension, it could prove to be a necessary move if the team wants to build towards next season.
Ultimately, only time will tell how significant George's absence is going to be on the Sixers' chances of success. But one thing is certain: the team has already shown its resilience in the face of adversity and is poised to make some savvy moves before the deadline.
I think this suspension is gonna test their chemistry, you know? They're already clicking without George so who knows if he even makes a difference when he comes back 
. And on a side note, I'm loving the idea of promoting Barlow or Walker - that's the kind of depth building they need 
. But seriously, with a 5-game winning streak and all, it feels like they're gonna be just fine regardless of what happens with George 
. The key is to stay healthy and get everyone on the same page 
paul george's suspension is def having an impact on their season tho... or is it? i read some stats sayin they're still killin it even without him 
tyrese maxey and joel embiid are like the dynamic duo right now 
... guess that's why he was so hyped when they started winnin' again 
but i'm sure he'll be back in no time & the team will still manage to crush it 
, moving as one and getting those Ws. But at the same time, I'm not sure how much of an impact his absence is going to have on their season overall. Maybe it won't be that bad after all? The stats say they're doing alright without him, and Tyrese Maxey and Embiid are killing it 
.
. Anyway, let's see how it all plays out.
. That would be a huge boost for their lineup and could help them build towards next season. We'll just have to wait and see what happens at the trade deadline. One thing's for sure, though - this team is gonna make some moves to get back on top! 
4-0 in the last 5 days is no joke 
. It's not like they're gonna tank just 'cause George is out for 25 games, that's not how it works 
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. But we'll just have to wait and see how all this plays out