Trust The Process

Trust The Process

The Philadelphia 76ers are on the rise, with the Sixers young core of talent will cause problems for other teams in the NBA for years to come. Joel “The Process”  Embiid the 7’0 big man did not play his first two seasons while being sidelined with a broken bone in his foot. Embiid was hearing the hate from sports talk analyst and fans saying “He’s a bust” and “The next Greg Oden, but he proved the haters wrong by showing off his talents in his rookie year last year. With Embiid only averaging 25.4 minutes per game in 31 games last season due to a torn left meniscus, he showed flashes of his superstar potential and his two-way dominance averaging 20.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game.

The Sixers had the number 1 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft and they selected a 6’10 point guard from LSU, Ben Simmons. Simmons already getting compared to NBA Legends Lebron James and Magic Johnson. Simmons is an extraordinary ball handler and passer for his size. Simmons always has his head up combined with his talent to read the floor which gives him the opportunity to find open teammates. Simmons showed off his talents in the Summer League, but then broke his foot in training camp which sidelined him for the entire season. Ben Simmons is one of those once in a generation type of players.

Also, last season the Croatian forward Dario Saric came over from Turkey and averaged 12.8 points, 2.2 assists, and 6.3 rebounds per game. Saric was the runner up for the Rookie of the Year award which was won by Milwaukee Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon. The Sixers last season improved their record from the season before, going 28-54, winning 18 more games than the year before.

This offseason the Sixers traded the third pick in the draft to move up to number one, the Sixers selected guard Markelle Fultz from Washington. Fultz averaged 23.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game, shooting 47.6 percent from the field in his only year in college. Fultz in college has shown that he feels comfortable moving without the ball in his hands, Fultz will have plenty of opportunities to run the Sixers offense, despite Simmons running the show at point guard. With the Sixers having two players in the backcourt with such great ball handling skills gives the Sixers a level of offensive versatility can cause problems for opposing defenses. Also, in free agency, the signed J.J. Redick to a one year, $23 million dollar contract. Redick in his final season playing for the Los Angeles Clippers he knocked down 201 3-pointers at a rate of 42.9 percent. Redick brings his 3-point shooting ability and his veteran presence to Sixers.

Sam Hinkie the former president and general manager of the Sixers, his plan has finally panned out. With all the losing seasons and all the tanking, the moment is finally here. There is so much hype surrounding the Sixers this year because all of their young talent for the future is finally healthy, now the Sixers are ready to win.

So far this season the Sixers are 7-6 and when Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid share the court together the Sixers play like a contender. It looks like this is the season the Sixers finally make it to the playoffs for the first time since the 2011-2012 season. The future is bright in Philadelphia.