The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Five Takeaways Philadelphia 76ers Defeat Phoenix Suns

By Bret Stuter

Nov 19, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) reacts to a fan during the first quarter against the Phoenix Suns at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) reacts to a fan during the first quarter against the Phoenix Suns at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 26, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Nik Stauskas (11) attempts a shot while being fouled against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Oklahoma City Thunder won 103-97. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 26, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Nik Stauskas (11) attempts a shot while being fouled against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the second half at Wells Fargo Center. The Oklahoma City Thunder won 103-97. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Takeaway Two: Philadelphia 76ers Are Better Than Expected

The Philadelphia 76ers are out two starters in Ben Simmons and Jerryd Bayless. The team is also without the services of defensive center standout Nerlens Noel.  With a roster at 80%, and a starting lineup of just 60%, the team really is not set up to find much success this season.

At least not until some players return to health.

But head coach Brett Brown does not make excuses. In fact, he doesn’t even like looking back. He continues to build the team by organizing “team building” activities. He talks about the positives that come out of his young team’s play, and addresses but does not dramatize the team’s challenges.

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And somehow, despite entering his fourth year without much success, he washes, rinses, and repeats again and again.

But somehow, hobbled and inexperienced as they are, this team is beginning to turn the corner.  It begins with the statistics, and the team is turning the corner in the fundamentals of the game.

This is a team with only one player starting who was on the team’s roster a year ago.  In fact, only six players from last year’s roster are recording statistics for the team this year.

It’s a young team. The Sixers are an unfamiliar team. As a matter of fact, it’s a team trying to forge an identity as well as cohesiveness during the early weeks of the 2016-2017 NBA season.

And they are winning some games in the process.