A look at the Eastern Conference and where the Sixers stand

The 2024-2025 Sixers season has not gone as anyone expected so far. They currently sit at 7-15 and in 12th place in the NBA Eastern Conference. However, the Sixers have won four of their last five games. Joel Embiid just returned from a seven-game absence due to swelling in his surgically repaired left knee and looked like his typical All-Star self — perhaps for the first time this season. Some would argue that Embiid looked as fresh as he has in years, inspiring confidence that the big man’s season might not be a lost cause.

The Sixers sit just 1.5 games back of the 10th seed, which is the final qualifying spot for the NBA’s play-in tournament. They are just two games back of the eighth and final playoff spot and just five games left Milwaukee Bucks for the sixth seed and the last secured spot to avoid the play-in. Despite the sluggish start to this season, the Sixers are far from doomed. The Sixers’ upcoming schedule is an excellent opportunity to continue gaining ground on the rest of the conference:

December 13 vs. Pacers (10-15)

Dec. 16 @ Hornets (7-17)

December 20 vs. Hornets (7-17)

Dec. 21 @ Cavs (21-4)

December 23 vs. Spurs (12-12)

With the Sixers’ Big 3 of Embiid, Paul George and Tyrese Maxey all seemingly back in the fold — barring several setbacks — the Sixers are expected to be favored in four of their next five games leading up to their Christmas Day showdown with their bitter rivals and defending NBA champion Boston Celtics.

The Sixers are 5-4 in games that Paul George alone has played more than 25 minutes and have a defensive rating of 105.3 in those contests, which would rank them second in the entire NBA. How effective the Sixers are with George on the floor defensively — despite missing Embiid and his rim protection and overall defensive abilities in all but one of those games, the most recent against the Chicago Bulls, where the Sixers won by a score of 108-100 — shows where impactful George is for this Sixers team just by being on the floor.

Maxey also turned in one of his better performances of the season on Sunday, recording his first career triple-double, tallying 25 points, dishing out a career-high 14 assists and pulling down a career-high 11 rebounds. The Sixers’ process and operation is so much better when they have their three stars on the court together. Sore NBA.comThe Sixers rank 27th in the NBA in offense, which has obviously been their biggest problem all season. They have struggled to find consistent sources of offense and ways to create easy baskets with their stars running out of time.

What has at times felt like a lost season for the Sixers — and has fans wondering if the best course of action would be to sit out the season and play for a high draft pick in the crowded 2025 NBA draft — finally has reason for optimism. There is hope that this team, put together last season with the expectations of a deep playoff run, could make those things happen. I also suspect that Daryl Morey has a few tricks up his sleeve as NBA trade deadline growing closer every day.

Sixers fans – are we back?