AT MIDSEASON, SIXERS GET PROPS FOR DEFENSE AND COACHING

2014-15 Record (as of Jan. 18)
W-L	8-32
PCT	.200
DIV	1-7
CONF	6-17
HOME	3-16
ROAD	5-16

The Sixers’ only offense comes from their backcourt, but neither Tony Wroten nor Michael Carter-Williams is very efficient. Robert Covington is the only Sixer who can shoot.

Despite a lack of talent and a historically bad offense that doesn’t allow it to get set very often, the Sixers’ defense is above average, which is rather impressive.

For the second straight year, the Sixers’ bench is mostly made up of players who wouldn’t be on any other NBA roster. They play hard, but not very well.

Few coaches in NBA history have been given as little to work with as Brett Brown. But he has made good on his promise to have his team defending better in his second season.

Last season, the Sixers actually had a couple of legitimate and experienced NBA rotation players on the roster, a few remnants from the team that was just a few minutes away from the conference finals in 2012. This year, their only guy with any kind of winning experience is Luc Mbah a Moute, who adds to Philly’s perimeter shooting woes and is around mostly to be a mentor for injured rookie Joel Embiid.

No team in recent memory entered the season with lower expectations. And when the Sixers lost their first 17 games, we were all just nodding our heads. But there was some promise in the defensive numbers and, eventually, a few ugly wins. The Sixers still don’t have the talent to compete every night, or even every other night. But for what they are, they’re well coached and they play hard.

For the second straight season, the results mean nothing. And it will be a while before we know if Sam Hinkie’s plan worked out. But considering both the present and the future, things could certainly be worse.