The Sixer Sense
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Are Philadelphia 76ers Too Successful?

Jan 11, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard T.J. McConnell (1) leaps in the air in celebration of hitting the game winning after hitting the game shot against the New York Knicks at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 98-97. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard T.J. McConnell (1) leaps in the air in celebration of hitting the game winning after hitting the game shot against the New York Knicks at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 98-97. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
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Jan 11, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard T.J. McConnell (1) leaps in the air in celebration of hitting the game winning after hitting the game shot against the New York Knicks at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 98-97. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2017; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard T.J. McConnell (1) leaps in the air in celebration of hitting the game winning after hitting the game shot against the New York Knicks at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 98-97. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

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But this is a team that is building chemistry and rhythm now. Don’t take my word for it. Nerlens Noel, one of the team dissidents, sees it too:

Winning cures teams illnesses.  But there is such a thing as too much too soon as well. Right now, we need to keep this team in perspective.  The team is 25th in the league of 30 teams. On one hand, the team remains 13 games below .500. On the other hand, the team is outscored, on average, by 5.5 points per game.

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This is not a playoff team right now. The team is close enough to start believing though.  The 2016 version is simply no longer accurate.  The 2016 form was like a cocoon state, a roster that turned inwards and developed.

But this is a different team in 2017.  So far, the team is 13-10 this year.  Joel Embiid appeared in just nine of those contests (the team was 7-2 in those games).  But the team has won three straight now without it’s stars – Embiid, Simmons, Bayless, and even Okafor.

Statistically, this is a team of compatible parts now.  Even the clumsy fit of some players to the overall grand scheme is a worrisome to 76ers fans, but plays chaos to the team’s opponents.