DETROIT - The 76ers are experiencing a post-All-Star break regression for the third consecutive season.
But, unlike the previous two campaigns, the cause has nothing to do with trading away their best players at the trade deadline. It's has a lot to do with their commitment to playing twin towers Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor on the floor together at least early in game. It also has to do with horrid transition defense and, especially in Wednesday's loss to the Detroit Pistons, a lack of energy that had the Sixers looking disinterested at times.
The Sixers (8-49) are giving up an average of 121.