The NBA is a severe enterprise. The Philadelphia 76ers are a severe franchise. I’m a severe individual. So belief me once I say that I’m being utterly severe in declaring completely, 100% severely that the 76ers are maybe-sorta-kinda the favorites within the Japanese Convention subsequent yr.
Once you take issues severely (like I’m), it’s important to attempt to lower out the fluff that might make one underneath or overestimate groups’ probabilities relative to the sphere. Previous efficiency? Irrelevant. Proof of idea? Who cares. Hypothetical accidents? Don’t make me snicker. As long as we ignore these three highly-unserious points, the 76ers have a reasonably hermetic case to be the favorites to win the convention.
Let’s take an trustworthy have a look at their roster subsequent season. Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain regarded just like the makings of an elite younger backcourt earlier than accidents and tanking ended final season early. Paul George had by far the worst season of his profession final yr, nevertheless it was so dangerous — his scoring dropped six entire factors — that it felt extra like an aberration than one thing that might torpedo this entire franchise. Add in VJ Edgecombe, who may be Dwayne Wade in like half a yr, and you’ve got a remarkably strong group with tons of room to develop.
Maxey is able to lead an important, not good staff. He’s acquired a burst and capturing skill that few can measure as much as, and the 76ers have sufficient measurement throughout the board to compensate for his defensive shortcomings. And he’s not almost as dangerous a defender as his skinny-legend level guard compatriots like Tyrese Haliburton or Darius Garland. He fights, and has nice ball abilities to hold round on protection.
The items across the edges aren’t dangerous both. Oshae Brissett and Quinten Grimes (ought to Philadelphia retain him) are skilled basketball gamers with playoff-capable skillsets. Edgecombe is the actual wildcard; I liked him at Baylor, and he was clearly the single-most NBA-ready athlete not named Cooper Flagg popping out of the draft. He and McCain have limitless upside in a convention the place staff constructing seems to be extra like my child cousin’s crayon drawings than the Mona Lisa.
The Boston Celtics are promoting belongings prefer it’s a Saturday flea market, and the Cleveland Cavaliers are all the time 5 dangerous minutes away from blowing their entire staff up. Positive, the Orlando Magic traded the farm for Desmond Bane (cool), and certain, the Atlanta Hawks are placing one thing reasonably attention-grabbing collectively (however they’re nonetheless the Atlanta Hawks). In the meantime, the New York Knicks are firing their head coach to possibly rent… Mike Brown? … and signing Guerschon Yabusele (good). The Indiana Pacers are in absolute shambles… as a result of the Milwaukee Bucks are out right here CUTTING Damian Lillard to finance a Myles Turner deal. Like… what’s going on right here?
All I see is a convention that’s lastly prepared for the 76ers to shine. Thrilling younger gamers combined with an infrastructure that is because of pop for as soon as. In previous years, there have been insurmountable obstacles like a Celtics demise lineup, Kawhi Leonard utilizing the drive, or LeBron James. However today, there’s nothing to be afraid of.
Okay, fantastic. In addition they have Joel Embiid. And as humorous because it’s been discussing them contending with out mentioning him, possibly that is the nice karma/exorcism season Philadelphia has been ready for. Embiid and the 76ers have all the time been on the flawed facet of the tide within the Japanese Convention. However with everybody else imploding, the 76ers might have pre-imploded final yr and can now be locked and loaded to be one of the best round. If Embiid can delay his subsequent implosion till subsequent July, this has an opportunity to be one thing particular.
And sure, which will sound like loads of “ifs,” however all championships require a level of luck, which is why I feel all of us have to take the Sixers’ odds at rivalry as severely as I took this text: very.
