Build Championship
But making the playoffs is not the ultimate goal. In fact, it never was. Playoffs are a way of rewarding the team management that they are doing everything well enough to sustain what they do for the foreseeable future. Only one team per season wins the ultimate prize.
All other playoff teams get a consolation prize. That, in itself, is enough validation to maintain the status quo. Teams like the Los Angeles Clippers, Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder and Utah Jazz did not threaten to enter the NBA Championship, but the season’s success is enough to warrant a “steady as she goes” perspective.
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Playoff Team Batter Box
The Philadelphia 76ers are not there yet. But the proclamation of Joel Embiid did awaken something in the team. It forced everyone in the organization to focus synchronously on the concept: “What must I do to make that happen?”. The results are unmistakable. Even head coach Brett Brown applauded the statement.
Brown, speaking after practice, says he applauds Embiid talking about playoff desires. Sees his belief, confidence filtering to rest of team
— brianseltzer (@brianseltzer) January 10, 2017
If you cannot place it into words, you can never make it happen.