After a second blowout loss in four games, the Philadelphia 76ers are on the brink of elimination.
On Tuesday night, the Sixers are paying a visit to the Boston Celtics for Game 5. It’s a win-or-go-home situation for the Sixers, and there’s a lot of pressure placed on core members of the organization to show something other than disappointment.
While a lot is being made about the front office, coaching staff, and the group of core stars, the bench has often been overlooked. Recently, 94WIP’s Joe DeCamara brought light to the unit that has been wildly underperforming. The host went as far as saying they are one of the worst units in NBA history.
What’s Being Said About The 76ers’ Bench?
“It’s the worst Sixers playoff bench I’ve ever seen,” DeCamara stated.
“It’s one of the worst benches for an NBA playoff team of all time. There’s nobody. I guess Drummond is the best off the bench. I guess Grimes is next, but other than those two, and they should only play 10 minutes, everyone else shouldn’t be playing a minute. Two guys should play 10 minutes, and everyone else shouldn’t play anything. Some of these guys play 20-25 minutes. The Edwards, the Bonas, I mean, disastrous.”
The comments came after the Sixers’ secondary unit turned in a total dud. Quentin Grimes checked in for 24 minutes and shot 5-7 for 12 points. He also contributed six assists and came down with two rebounds.
Outside of Grimes, the Sixers’ bench contributed 12 points in Game 5. Philly’s bench was outscored by Payton Pritchard 32-24. The bench was already an issue going into the postseason, and it has remained a cause for concern in the playoffs.
The Sixers Need Help In Game 5
Ultimately, winning in the playoffs will come down to the core guys. Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey are the focal point of the Tuesday night matchup.
While better bench play could surely help, it’s clear the Sixers have fumbled their roster construction with this group of secondary contributors. It’s too late to fix it now.
The starters are going to be prepare for even higher minute totals on Tuesday as the season is now on the line. If the Sixers pull off another shocking road victory in Boston, the series will return to Philly on April 30.
A loss for the Sixers means another lost season.