In a season that has already produced numerous puzzling performances (see: Jazz), none is more puzzling than that of the Philadelphia 76ers.
   
The defending Eastern Conference champs, who tip off against Utah tonight at the Delta Center, are 12-16, in sixth place in the Atlantic Division and trying to find some consistency.
   
Philly opened the season 0-5, but everyone chalked that up to the absence of league MVP Allen Iverson, who missed those games after an operation. That theory seemed to hold water when Iverson and the Sixers promptly ripped off seven straight wins.
     
But since then they've gone 5-11, including a seven-game losing streak, and no one seems to know why.
     
One problem has been what coach Larry Brown has described, while not using this precise term, as selfishness. In widely reported comments, Brown said the team was less in need of a shooter than someone who will pass to a shooter.