The ‘should the Sixers tank?’ discussion is starting to feel pointless—because honestly, does it even matter?

The Sixers lost another game they had no business losing, falling 105-103 to the Brooklyn Nets at the buzzer. And the headline? Joel Embiid watched the entire fourth quarter from the bench.

This wasn’t a case of load management or injury precaution. This was Nick Nurse making a statement, whether he meant to or not. And at this point, who could blame him?

Organizational Malpractice: We need Jon Taffer to tell the Sixers to ‘Shut It Down’

Fire Daryl Morey

0-6 since this was said. Truly an all-timer. https://t.co/2AglSBxgcz pic.twitter.com/TEysRM5155

— Dan Wilson (@dan_wilson4) February 23, 2025

The Lifeless Start That Set the Tone

This was the worst offensive team in the league over the last 15 games, missing its two best shot-creators. And yet, Brooklyn opened the game with a 40-point first quarter, shooting 75% from the field and getting whatever they wanted.

The Sixers looked slow, disinterested, and completely disconnected. The defense? Nonexistent. The rotations? A mess. The effort? Laughable.

• They didn’t guard the paint.
• They didn’t guard the three-point line.
• They didn’t force turnovers.
• They didn’t keep Brooklyn off the free-throw line.

And once again, it took being embarrassed for them to actually start competing.

The Joel Embiid Problem—Physically and Mentally

Joel Embiid looks like a shell of himself, and there’s no way around it. I literally have no idea why he’s even playing? It’s really not his fault. He can’t operate how he wants with his knee and it’s showing in his defense and ability to literally play basketball at the level we all know he can.

This isn’t just a conditioning issue—it’s a confidence issue trusting his knee. He’s playing slower than ever, and more concerning than that, he doesn’t look like he believes in himself right now.

• His movements lack conviction—he’s just going through the motions.
• His decision-making is off, leading to bad shots and late contests on defense.
• His hands look worse than ever, fumbling easy catches and getting dislodged too easily.

C’mon Joel what are we even doing here bro?

JOEL EMBIID WITH THE BLOCK OF THE YEAR. 🤯🔥 pic.twitter.com/CaZSVJfgee

— NBACentel (@TheNBACentel) February 23, 2025

Brooklyn wasn’t afraid of him at all, and why would they be? Nic Claxton used to be food for Embiid—now he’s holding his own. The biggest indictment? The Sixers looked more competitive without him in the fourth quarter.

Guerschon Yabusele Sparks a Comeback, But Why Was He MIA for Weeks?

Let’s talk about Guerschon Yabusele, because he actually played well when given minutes.

• He played bulky, smart basketball at power forward next to Embiid.
• He held down the center spot to open the fourth quarter instead of Andre Drummond (thank God).
• He helped create defensive chaos, allowing Quentin Grimes, Kelly Oubre, and Paul George to trap Brooklyn’s ball-handlers and force turnovers.

The real question—why was he buried on the bench for weeks while Andre Drummond got rotation minutes? The Sixers’ front office sold his contract dump at the deadline as a “move to keep him”, only for Nurse to treat him like a mop-up guy. It’s the type of internal contradiction that sums up this team’s dysfunction.

Paul George Needs His Own Section for How Bad He’s Been

Paul George was signed to be a stabilizing presence. Instead, he looks like he’s just here to collect a check. His decision-making has been atrocious, and his defensive effort comes in spurts at best. The lowlight?

• Keon Johnson, a 28% three-point shooter, caught the ball with four seconds on the shot clock.
• Instead of just contesting like a normal person, George lunged at him.
• Johnson blew by him, Embiid didn’t move, and the Nets got a free dunk.

Wake Up, Paul George!!

NIC CLAXTON PUTBACK FOR THE WINpic.twitter.com/1WNKsgwcA8

— Underdog NBA (@Underdog__NBA) February 23, 2025

That sequence sums up everything wrong with this team—mental lapses, disinterest, and a total lack of defensive urgency.

So… Are the Sixers Tanking? Or Are They Just That Bad?

The “should the Sixers tank?” discussion is starting to feel pointless—because honestly, does it even matter? This team doesn’t need to tank. The veterans are so out of sorts, so unmotivated, and so uninspired that they’re going to lose plenty of games naturally.

If Joel Embiid isn’t right, this season is already over and right now, he isn’t right.

• The assumption all year was that Embiid would return and fix everything.
• The opposite has happened—his presence has only highlighted their flaws.
• And now? He’s getting benched in crunch time of winnable games.

Maybe the biggest question isn’t whether the Sixers should tank—but whether they’re already doing it by accident.

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