The Sixers have had a bench problem all season long.
In their 114-103 loss to the Boston Celtics on Thursday, Philadelphia’s fast start and swift collapse was a microcosm of their season.
This is a team that has a starting line-up of talent to rival any team in the Eastern Conference. Much of the Sixers’ issues stem from what happens when their bench unit comes in relief of Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, J.J. Redick and the like.
T.J. McConnell is the team’s most consistent bench option, and perhaps it’s most popular player not named Joel Embiid, but he’s less a scorer and more a hard-working player who adeptly runs the offense and does the little things that help teams win close games.