Will Philadelphia 76ers be first Philly team returning to playoffs?

Sixers Probability – 55 percent

Finally, we come to the Philadelphia 76ers. This is a team benefitting from a number of very positive forces internally and externally. Internally, you have the simultaneous debut of two top picks from consecutive NBA drafts in the form of Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz.  Say what you will, but this has never happened in the NBA before. In has never come close to happening in the entire history of the Philadelphia 76ers franchise.

In fact, the last top pick to the Philadelphia 76ers was in 1996 and the selection was Allen Iverson. You can guess why the city is so excited.  Added to the mix is the fact that a team with as many as five starting caliber players on injury still managed to improve from 10-72 to 28-54 in one season. Even with injured players healing this season, that would drive the projected wins total into the 40-50 range.

But the team added sharpshooter J.J. Redick and power forward Amir Johnson to the mix as well. Both add veteran leadership and post season experience to a young roster.

Big Ben

Simmons is the key. And in his first preseason game, he definitely showed up.

But isn’t that to be expected? He is a rookie, yes. But he’s a top-pick from an NBA Draft, and he is benefiting from an extra year of coaching. And he’s an elite talent. But he doesn’t fit “a category”. And so, the NBA pundits simply ignore the undefinable impact of the young man.

Next: GM Survey predicts Ben Simmons will finish 2nd in ROY voting

So I conclude that the Philadelphia 76ers will make the playoffs first.  What do you think? Let me know in the comments section.