The Sixer Sense
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Amidst NBA arms races, tranquility thrives amongst the Philadelphia 76ers

By Bret Stuter

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 25: Philadelphia 76ers center #21 Joel Embiid attends the 2017 Mylan World TeamTennis New York Empire vs Philadelphia Freedoms match at Michael J. Hagan Arena at St. Joseph's University on July 25, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 25: Philadelphia 76ers center #21 Joel Embiid attends the 2017 Mylan World TeamTennis New York Empire vs Philadelphia Freedoms match at Michael J. Hagan Arena at St. Joseph's University on July 25, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images) /
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While NBA teams lop, graft, merge and purge players from their rosters, there is a team that has boiled professional basketball down to the essence of the sport. The Philadelphia 76ers play basketball the way it’s meant to be played

After losing more games than any other NBA franchise over the past four seasons, you have to wonder what keeps the coaches and players of the Philadelphia 76ers coming back to the court. If winning is everything, the Philadelphia 76ers are the closest to nothing in the NBA today.

Ah… but that’s not what is going on here. In fact, this team seems to enjoy playing the game, and around each other, more than most teams. This is a team that laughs loud, holds their heads up proudly, and always gets a good word from their head coaches.

Removing the burden of winning championships may have placed the Philadelphia 76ers in the best position in the NBA to win one.

The Grinch delivers presents at the end…

If you have ever seen The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, you know the scene at the top of Mount Krumpet where the Grinch finally realizes that Christmas has nothing to do with presents or packages.

Similarly, the NBA (Grinch) reduced the Philadelphia 76ers to a point of ridicule over taking a far distant future approach to rebuilding this team. But how can you argue with the results? The team has Joel Embiid at a very difficult to fill center role, two consecutive top draft picks in Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz, solid free agent acquisitions in Amir Johnson, Jerryd Bayless, and J.J. Redick, plenty of high-upside talented youth, and enough salary cap space to discuss openly.

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Other teams satisfied? Not so much…

The Philadelphia 76ers did not set out to find the NBA’s fountain of youth. It was actually the last thing on the team’s mind.  From 2014, the goal was focused and absolute: converting the barren scorched-earth policies of previous executives into a flourishing vibrant pipleline of talent and assets. Getting there required more discipline than any NBA franchise was willing to endure in the history of the league.

The reason? Simple. Cause and effect. Without spending a trickling in assets to build for today, the team opened options to leverage for tomorrow.  With no other team on a similar trek, it became a matter of hanging up the shingle and letting teams come to the Sixers.  Need a player today? Here you go.. for a premium of tomorrow’s picks.   Need a team to swallow unaffordable contracts? Certainly. Here you go… for a premium of tomorrow’s picks.

Business boomed.  At least until the NBA interceded.

Curious aftereffects

But the aftermath of the trek together has a curious effect on this team. They are close now, like brothers of one big family. It’s a ploy used in training troops to similar results. You bring a group together by forcing them to share adversity. Do that successfully, and suddenly strangers have each others’ backs.

Now, teams are all stressed out. The wheeling and dealing days have forced teams into arms races. A few good teams are getting better. Most of the NBA is simply waving the rush to improve on, symbolizing their interest in catching the next train to the NBA championships.

Next: Philadelphia 76ers coaching staff annual review

Meanwhile, the Philadelphia 76ers  are laughing and having a good time. Why? They are getting better organically. This team has a fanbase who stuck by them through the toughest of times.  The future not only appears much sunnier to the Philadelphia 76ers, it’s a cake walk compared to recent history.