The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Can Philadelphia 76ers EVENTUALLY Overtake The GS Warriors?

By Bret Stuter

Jul 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; USA guard Kevin Durant (5) gets ready for practice at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; USA guard Kevin Durant (5) gets ready for practice at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 9, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Ben Simmons (25) yells from the court during an NBA Summer League game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Thomas & Mack Center. Los Angeles won the game 70-69. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 9, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Ben Simmons (25) yells from the court during an NBA Summer League game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Thomas & Mack Center. Los Angeles won the game 70-69. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /

The Climb

Meanwhile, the Philadelphia 76ers are looking for ways to approach a .500 record this season. While they have added some serious talent this year in the forms of Joel Embiid, Dario Saric, and Ben Simmons, the fact that all three are joining the team’s front court means that the team will be working to acclimate a number of rookies simultaneously, again.

But this is a gradual slope this year, and not scaling the face of the NBA cliff from previous seasons.   That’s because this year the team has at least three players which can easily be identified as the building blocks to the future.   While last season and the two previous years were seeking the cornerstone, the Sixers have at least one in Simmons.  If the health of Joel Embiid holds out, that could be the second.  If the physicality, scoring from the perimeter, and the rebounding of Dario Saric does not vanish in the NBA, he could prove to be a third piece.

The timetable for such an ascent, using the Golden State Warriors as the template, will likely prove to be in the 2020 time frame or thereabouts.  The Warriors arrived to the NBA championship in the 2014-2015 season, the sixth year of point guard Stephen Curry, and the third year for shooting guard Klay Thompson.  In the interim, the team had to say goodbye to Monta Ellis, Corey Maggette, and Stephen Jackson and place their trust in the younger players entering the league.

Soon, the Philadelphia 76ers will need to begin waiving off some of their talented players, invest the dollars in the true elite of the team, and continue a steady stream of bringing in talent from the draft to fill the roster with strong affordable production.

Right now, the progression is in the second stage: building around the core.  Eventually, the team will face where to commit the dollars of the franchise towards the future.

Next: Third Stage