76ers failing to replicate success they enjoyed last season.
Last season was a relatively happy time for the Philadelphia 76ers, having exceeded expectations by not only reaching the Eastern Conference play-offs but also defeating the No.1 seeded Chicago Bulls in the first round.
Helped in large part by the injury suffered by Derrick Rose which derailed the Bulls during that series, the 76ers still managed to get the job done as they improved on their performance the previous year.
However, this season has been an altogether different story as they continue to struggle, with the frustration boiling over for coach Doug Collins after their home loss to the Orlando Magic last month.
Still without the services of Andrew Bynum, who hasn’t played a single game for Philadelphia since his switch from the Lakers, there is no real sign of this season getting any better.
What has made the Bynum situation worse is not only the fact he re-injured his knee while bowling, but there is no clear picture as to when he might return.
According to USA Today, the 7-foot giant is considering having arthroscopic surgery on his knees in order to help cure his on-going troubles as there is a real worry he may suffer from the issue for the remainder of his career.
That would mean the 25-year-old would be forced to sit out the entire season, ahead of a summer in which he becomes a free agent.
General manager Tony DiLeo still admits that Bynum is Plan A, and that the 76ers are desperate for him to succeed in the city after experiencing a difficult start.
However, with nearest rivals Milwaukee Bucks currently on a four-game winning streak, the gap is gradually increasing between them and the 76ers.
Having snapped a seven-game losing streak on Saturday night, they returned to losing ways against the Washington Wizards on Sunday.
With just over six weeks of the regular season remaining, coach Collins has a big task on his hands to bring back play-off basketball to the Wells Fargo Center.
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