The Sixers lost to the Pistons at home on Wednesday night by double digits. They are now 1-3. Here’s Tobias Harris pumping up the crowd in the middle of a Detroit run:

Credit to Tyrese Maxey for trying, but without Joel Embiid and Paul George the team is unwatchable.

Mind you, this is the third time in four years that the regular season has begun with a clown show. This year, two injured superstars have yet to play and the team was fined $100,000. Last year, the James Harden/Clippers trade had yet to take place, and in 2021 they started the season without Ben Simmons, who was holding out after the disaster of the Hawks series the year prior. 2022 was the only recent year that began with the preferred starting five on the floor, and go figure they started 0-3 anyway before going on to win 54 games.

We might have to bring back the Crossing Broad Sixers moratorium. The original took place when Harden called Daryl Morey a liar and the summer of 2023 turned into a total shitshow. Pagan ignored the moratorium in disrespectful fashion while I adhered to it, because no one needed to hear about the Sixers back then. For who? For what? The Eagles were rolling, the Flyers accepted and started their rebuild, the Phillies were prepping for another playoff run, and the Union hadn’t fallen off yet.

This team is exhausting. They are one of just six teams with one or fewer win. They are shooting 41.3% from the floor, which is 28th in the NBA. Their 27.7% three point number is dead last, and they shoot just 74.1% from the foul line despite getting there a league-leading 34.8 times per game. They’re okay with turnovers so far but commit a ton of fouls, and when you put it all together they have a -7.2 net rating. Ranked 26th. They aren’t worth watching until one or both of Embiid and George are on the floor. It’s just not worth your time. You’d be better served watching Below Deck or whatever your wife watches.