The Sixer Sense
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What’s Gotten Into The Philadelphia 76ers?

By Bret Stuter

Jan 3, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Robert Covington (33) reacts with Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) and guard Nik Stauskas (11) and forward Dario Saric (9) after hitting the game winning shot against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 93-91. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Robert Covington (33) reacts with Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (21) and guard Nik Stauskas (11) and forward Dario Saric (9) after hitting the game winning shot against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 93-91. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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NBA: Los Angeles Clippers at Philadelphia 76ers
NBA: Los Angeles Clippers at Philadelphia 76ers /

What’s the Recipe?

Each player on this team was like a train car.. waiting for that one special talent to get everyone moving in the right direction. When Joel Embiid arrived, all spotlights turned to him. He was a phenom on the basketball court. He was Mr. Popularity in the #NBAVote-ing.

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But the 76ers were still losing until the team defeated the Brooklyn Nets:

"“I think we have a chance. We’ve been hot lately. We’ve won three out of four lately, so I look at it, and I think we have a chance, and we’re really figuring things out. We’re starting to learn how to win games.” – as interviewed postgame by ESPN"

That win elevated the 76ers to 9-25. That interview did something far greater.  The team whose name had become synonymous with “tanking” just had an NBA rookie star publicly state that the team could win games.

Joel Embiid is a sponge. He sees everything around him.  And whatever he sees, he can imitate. And he watched former 76ers president Sam Hinkie risk his career to ensure Embiid would have an opportunity to play in the NBA.  He saw sacrifice.  Then he imitated the act.