The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Philadelphia 76ers 0-3 preseason shows plenty of positives

By Bret Stuter

CAMDEN, NJ - SEPTEMBER 25: Ben Simmons #25, Joel Embiid #21 and Markelle Fultz #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers pose for the camera during the Philadelphia 76ers Media Day on September 25, 2017 at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex in Camden, New Jersey.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 Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
CAMDEN, NJ - SEPTEMBER 25: Ben Simmons #25, Joel Embiid #21 and Markelle Fultz #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers pose for the camera during the Philadelphia 76ers Media Day on September 25, 2017 at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex in Camden, New Jersey.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 Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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The Philadelphia 76ers jump into preseason 0-3. But this team is having far more success than you realize.

When you see the professional sports team begin training camp, and then enter preseason contests, you experience an automatic response. Competition means “WIN!” at all costs. As such, it’s completely natural for fans of the Philadelphia 76ers to look at a 0-3 preseason record, shrug shoulders, and think “here we go again?!?!”.

But preseason is not akin to normal season basketball games. Much like a movie or dramatic Broadway play, the preseason is dress rehearsal for a season to come.

So dress rehearsal for another disappointing season? Well not quite. You see, preseason is an odd assortment of what head coaches are looking for.  Right now, the juggernaut Brooklyn Nets are, sit down for this one, 3-0. The hapless Cleveland Cavaliers are 0-3. See where I’m going with this?

Forces counter culture of winning

There are two sets of dynamics impacting the Philadelphia 76ers this off-season which run counter to the winning principal.  The first is to be conservative – don’t risk injury nor revealing too much in a game which means nothing in the grand scheme of things. But the second and likely more important of the two right now is experimentation.

The team is working on slotting players (the bane of versatile players is the need to test them each year to see what they can do best). Right now, the only way to do so is to play the guys and see how they do in specific scripted roles. Then, assess their performance to direct practice and work in the gym.