The NBA is a severe enterprise. The Philadelphia 76ers are a severe franchise. I’m a severe particular person. So belief me once I say that I’m being fully severe in declaring completely, 100% severely that the 76ers are maybe-sorta-kinda the favorites within the Jap Convention subsequent yr.
Once you take issues severely (like I’m), it’s a must to attempt to minimize out the fluff that might make one below or overestimate groups’ possibilities relative to the sector. 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 fairly hermetic case to be the favorites to win the convention.
Let’s take an trustworthy take 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 unhealthy — his scoring dropped six complete factors — that it felt extra like an aberration than one thing that might torpedo this complete franchise. Add in VJ Edgecombe, who is perhaps Dwayne Wade in like half a yr, and you’ve got a remarkably stable group with tons of room to develop.
Maxey is able to lead a terrific, not good crew. He’s bought a burst and capturing means that few can measure as much as, and the 76ers have sufficient dimension throughout the board to compensate for his defensive shortcomings. And he’s not almost as unhealthy 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 unhealthy 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 crew constructing appears to be like 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 at all times 5 unhealthy minutes away from blowing their complete crew up. Certain, the Orlando Magic traded the farm for Desmond Bane (cool), and positive, the Atlanta Hawks are placing one thing reasonably fascinating collectively (however they’re nonetheless the Atlanta Hawks). In the meantime, the New York Knicks are firing their head coach to perhaps 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 blended with an infrastructure that is because of pop for as soon as. In previous years, there have been insurmountable obstacles like a Celtics loss of life lineup, Kawhi Leonard utilizing the power, or LeBron James. However nowadays, there’s nothing to be afraid of.
Okay, superb. Additionally they have Joel Embiid. And as humorous because it’s been discussing them contending with out mentioning him, perhaps that is the nice karma/exorcism season Philadelphia has been ready for. Embiid and the 76ers have at all times been on the unsuitable facet of the tide within the Jap 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.
