It's That Bad

The Sixers are 0-17. They are last in the very light Atlantic Division, the pretty light Eastern Conference, and in an NBA that encourages non-contenders to lose. The worst team, period, probably in all of professional sports. They are far worse than the MLB-worst, 99 loss Phillies. They are much worse than the pathetic, already quit for the season Eagles. They are worse than the non-contender Flyers. For reference though-

• They are one loss from tying the all-time worst NBA start of 0-18. 
• Their 27 straight losses going back to last year is a North American sports record losing streak. 
• They are the first team to start back-to-back seasons 0-16. 
• Their highly touted #3 overall pick, Jahlil Okafor, has made news this week for knocking a guy out at a Boston bar, having a gun pulled on him, and getting pulled over going 108 miles per hour.
• Their highly touted #3 overall pick from last year, Joel Embiid, hasn't played an NBA game yet.
• Isaiah Canaan is still the starting point guard on this team. Not just on the team, but starting. Kendall Marshall and Tony Wroten haven't stepped on a basketball court yet.

So yeah, things are as bad as they seem. This team was never a playoff caliber team, but I did think we'd see the team pass the 20 win mark this year. That ain't happening. This team will be the worst team in the NBA by a lot. Even so, this year was about evaluating a few players who either could be cornerstones or role players in the future. Even by that standard, things are rough.

• Okafor's off-court issues are starting to become rather scary, while Nerlens Noel is still rather up-and-down. Neither has played really poorly, but i'm not sure they fit together. 
• Stauskas has had his ups-and-downs, but hasn't yet played quite up to a #8 overall pick.
• Guys like Jerami Grant and Robert Covington have had their moments, but Covington has battled injuries, and frankly these guys are only potential role players. 
• Marshall and Wroten haven't even stepped on a court yet.

Even with nothing really going right so far, it's important to not yet abandon all hope. The plan has always appeared to have been about next year's team showing improvement. They have four first round picks- their almost certain high lottery pick, the top-three protected Lakers pick, and the picks of Oklahoma City and Miami. Add onto that the arrival of Dario Saric, maybe Joel Embiid, and enough cap room to sign a major free agent or two, and the Sixers should have a much different roster next season.

Or that's what we're supposed to think. So far, not enough of the picks have panned out for me to say for sure this is going to work. I'm getting very nervous about Okafor off the court, and whether or not Embiid will ever be on it. I don't know if they can convince free agents to come here. It's hard to shake the stink of a team that is this disgraceful. I hope I'm being over pessimistic, but I have my doubts.