While the Philadelphia 76ers sit atop the Eastern Conference, they haven't necessarily looked like a juggernaut to begin the year. They've pulled out countless close games, which included letting the Charlotte Hornets hang around for a full 48 minutes on Halloween.

Their net rating to begin the season is a modest 3.7, which ranks just outside the league's Top 10. For what it's worth, it's easily been the offense that has weighed them down the most. They have recorded just a 50.8 effective field goal percentage, good enough for sixth-worst in the league. We've also seen them struggle at times on the glass. While Joel Embiid remains a fierce presence, Philly has already seen him miss two games and lacks high-quality depth at the five.

With all that said, it's still hard not to fear another blowout loss for the Bulls. Philly's defense has been the third-best to start the year, forcing teams into 17.3 turnovers a night.…