Where Sixers Rank in Key Areas at 2023 NBA All-Star Break

The Philadelphia 76ers went into the 2023 All-Star break on a high note. After taking down the Cleveland Cavaliers last Wednesday, the Sixers collected their fourth-straight win.

With that victory, Philadelphia advanced to 39-19 on the year with a winning percentage of 67. They currently sit third in the Eastern Conference, trailing only the Milwaukee Bucks and the Boston Celtics, who are three games in front of the Sixers in first place.

With just 25 games left to go, we now have a good idea of who the Sixers are based on 57 regular season games. With the playoffs rapidly approaching, let’s look at where the Sixers rank in some critical areas of the game compared to their Eastern Conference foes and see where they’ve improved from last season.

The Good

Offensive Scoring

Last season, the Sixers ranked 13th in points per 100 possessions on offense. This season, they took a slight jump into the top ten. Scoring 116.7 points per 100 possessions, the Sixers are ranked eighth in the NBA in that category. The only two Eastern Conference teams in front of them are the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics.

Defensive Scoring

The Sixers want to be the best defense in the NBA after ranking 11th in points given up per 100 possessions. According to NBA.com, Philly was 12th in defensive rating last season. They aren’t quite there in terms of getting in the top five for either category, but it’s close enough to say the goal is still achievable. Currently, the Sixers rank seventh in points per 100 possessions and are sixth in defensive rating. Defensively, they trail the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks, and Cleveland Cavaliers.

Three Point Percentage

The days of the Sixers struggling from three are behind them. Last season, Philadelphia placed just outside the top five in the league from beyond the arc. This season, they are the fourth-best team from deep, knocking down 38.7% of their shots. The Brooklyn Nets rank ahead of them currently, but they have experienced some major turnover before the trade deadline.

Needs Improvement

Offensive Rebounding

The Sixers were nearly at the bottom of the pack when it came to offensive rebounding last season. Unfortunately, they still struggle there this year. Grabbing 23.9% of their team’s misses, the Sixers are 26th in the NBA when it comes to getting boards on the offensive end of the floor.

Defensive Rebounding

Just to stay on topic for a moment, the Sixers’ rebounding concerns aren’t reserved for just the offensive end of the floor. Defensively, they are better in the rebounding department, but they rank 18th in that category, snagging 71.4% of their opponent’s misses. When it comes to rankings, the Sixers are near where they ranked last season.

Transition Defense

At the beginning of the 2022-2023 NBA season, the Sixers’ transition defense was the laughingstock of the NBA. After an uninspiring start to the year, Philly picked up their play in transition and started to turn things around. They are better than last year and much better than they were when the season started, but they still have their struggles in transition. It’s a common topic that Doc Rivers has to address, with his team ranking 22nd in transition defense at this point in the year.

Justin Grasso covers the Philadelphia 76ers for All76ers, a Sports Illustrated channel. You can follow him for live updates on Twitter: @JGrasso_.