Philadelphia 76ers Will Vacate NBA Basement This Season

By Bret Stuter | Sep 7, 2016

Mar 11, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown argues a call with referee Lauren Holtkamp (7) during the fourth quarter of the game against the Brooklyn Nets at the Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 95-89. Mandatory Credit: John Geliebter-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 /

Raising Expectations

The point of the basketball team is the court general. He calls the plays, sets the pace, and is the closest person to the head coach on the team. However, that player sets the expectations of each player on the court.

Much of a basketball team is spent reacting to what they see happening. The Philadelphia 76ers were reacting last season. That ends this season.

Ben Simmons expects players to move without the ball, and will get them the pass as they get to their shooting spot. He will expect the team to play hard. He will fight and scrap and get the most out of the players in the lineup.

Most of all, he will raise the expectations of the team.

Where passion supplies a much greater energy, Simmons will serve as the lens for that energy. His passing precision, basketball IQ, and athleticism will give the Philadelphia 76ers an unexpected advantage.

But this team will need one final element, one last piece to improve. The team will need an enforcer, and Joel Embiid is all that and more.

Next: Joel Enforcer