The Sixer Sense
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The Sixers proved they were playoff bound last year without their stars

By Peter Manfre

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 10: Head coach Brett Brown (center left) talks with Nik Stauskas #11, T.J. McConnell #1 (center right) and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers during a timeout against the Indiana Pacers during the fourth quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on April 10, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Pacers won 120-111. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 10: Head coach Brett Brown (center left) talks with Nik Stauskas #11, T.J. McConnell #1 (center right) and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers during a timeout against the Indiana Pacers during the fourth quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on April 10, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Pacers won 120-111. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images) /
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The Philadelphia 76ers may have only won 28 games in 2017, but they showed they were primed for the playoffs in 2018 and many years to come.

Forget the draft day trade to acquire Markelle Fultz. Well, just hold onto it, we are going to come back to that in a minute.

The Philadelphia 76ers trusted the process and waited, and after three consecutive seasons of their top selection missing at least a month of the season, they showed growth. Growth without those said first picks.

Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers /

Philadelphia 76ers

Growth from the bench players, future role players, and in team chemistry. An added toughness throughout the lineup and well past the starting five developed as well. Without chemistry, or a complete roster, you aren’t going to beat anyone in the NBA Finals.

Teams in the NBA needs stars, as evident by the arms race going on in the league that has seen teams like the Houston Rockets trade for All Pro point guard Chris Paul in order to catch the Warriors. NBA franchises also know they need more than just stars.

Teams need depth.

The Clippers, for all their star power, lacked depth the last five years. The same can be said for teams like the Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls and Oklahoma City Thunder. All playoff teams that scare absolutely no one.

Sure, we all expect those teams to be in the playoffs year in and year out. That is based more on the fact that they have more star power than the bottom feeders. They still lack depth. As the post season approaches, overused stars get tired and sloppy.

A tired and sloppy star will cost their team a shot at a championship. That is what happened to MVP runner-up James Harden last season against the San Antonio Spurs.

The great teams — Spurs, Warriors, Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers — matched star power with depth. Former Spurs assistant and current Sixers head coach Brett Brown knows the significance of this molding.

With so many of the Sixers aforementioned first round picks missing times, it allowed the Sixers to build one of the deepest rotations in the league.

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The best teacher is experience, and outside of Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Fultz, the entire Philadelphia roster has had experience. Role players like T.J. McConnell, Nick Stauskas, and Robert Covington all got starter’s minutes last season. All are set for a bench role in 2018.

Why is that important?

When the Sixers’ big three of young studs sits, they will have the core of last year’s grinders out there. There is a talent drop off sure, but the cohesiveness and affordability of that bench will come in handy.

Head coach Brown has made an effort to build the roster in mold of his former Spurs. A team that values bench play like no other. When the stars show up in Philly — because they will — it’ll be the glue guys jobs to keep it together while they grow.

Team chemistry is of paramount importance in the game of basketball. While the media was talking about the big moves the Sixers have made, it was their on court growth that will play most value.

The Sixers have a complete team with the addition of Simmons and Fultz to a healthy Embiid. They have that complete team because of the growth that occurred without those three on the court.

Next: 7 reasons the Sixers will be better than the Lakers

The Sixers are built for the long haul, and the NBA is about to see just how  complete of a team the process built starting in 2018.