Unforeseen Circumstances
The Philadelphia 76ers have had a run of seriously bad luck in recent years. Injuries have haunted the team, injuries to the top players and to the number of players, for years. Eventually luck will break the other way.
Right now the team is sitting on the two top rookies in the nation in Joel Embiid and Dario Saric. Beyond this, when Ben Simmons arrives, that could turn into three of the nations top rookies.
Hoops Habit
All on one team.
And that is just the start of this team’s progress.
At some point, Nerlens Noel will either try to play lights out to earn his next contract, or will be dealt to any number of NBA team suitors. In either case, the results will move the 76ers in a positive direction.
Inconsistency
Meanwhile, the team has seen very inconsistent play from Robert Covington. On occasion, Nik Stauskas has been down and up. To start the season,Dario Saric has been slow to get up to speed. Even senior team veteran Hollis Thompson has allowed doubts with his inconsistent play. It’s naive to think each player will grow out of it.
But its equally naive to assert that no player will do so.
Players oscillate in their performance. Much like waves during a rising tide. The key to the ebb and flow of player production is to maximize good production, and minimize off nights. Right now, the cycle is one good game surrounded by four bad games.
Eventually, that will improve as players learn their own limits, and trust teammates in theirs.