The Sixer Sense
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Are Philadelphia 76ers Too Successful?

By Bret Stuter

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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Nov 2, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie (far left) watches as center Joel Embiid (21) walks out of the tunnel on crutches prior to a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 2, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie (far left) watches as center Joel Embiid (21) walks out of the tunnel on crutches prior to a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Trust The Process

Far too many equate Trusting the Process with a blind objective of intentionally losing so that the team would land as high on the NBA Draft probabilities as possible.

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It’s not. In fact, Trusting the Process has virtually nothing to do with tanking, any more than the goal of NASCAR drivers is to hit the pit stops.

The Process is an acceleration of discovering franchise level talent.  The method involves multiplying the probability by increasing the number of draft picks and undrafted but high ceiling NBA prospects.  As cited in The Manifesto, the objective is to shoot with a larger quiver.  That suggests that more shots, not necessarily more accurate shots, was the plan all along.

But that works in the confines of the NBA roster limits.  15 players per team maximum for the NBA 82 game season. 10 day contracts, trading players both in and out, maximizing the number of draft picks, auditioning as many players into the NBA as possible.

That process will go on this season.

It’s the irony of the NBA that forces an either or situation.  Or even to make it a talking point to begin with?  A two round draft,  a 15 player roster, and only partial investment in a development league gives wide margin for creative teams like the Philadelphia 76ers to take advantage of the system’s short-sightedness.