The Sixer Sense
Fansided

The Sixers currently have the best lineup in the NBA

By Christopher Kline

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 20: Robert Covington #33 of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrates with JJ Redick #17 in the first quarter against the Utah Jazz at the Wells Fargo Center on November 20, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 20: Robert Covington #33 of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrates with JJ Redick #17 in the first quarter against the Utah Jazz at the Wells Fargo Center on November 20, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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As of right now, the Philadelphia 76ers have the best lineup in the NBA. Trust The Process.

The Philadelphia 76ers are 11-7 and we haven’t reached December yet. They’re also one game out of the second seed in the Eastern Conference, which is an impressive feat for a team headed by a rookie and someone 31 games his senior.

New faces and youth haven’t bogged down this Sixers team, and a lot of that can be attributed to their culture. They lead the league in passes per game and have one of the strongest locker room dynamics in the NBA — and that’s just from the outside looking in.

Their ball movement, strong chemistry and the emergence of their stars have all played a big role in the Sixers’ early success. And by success, I mean success.

Philadelphia, after years of full-blown rebuilds and consistent losing, currently have the most productive lineup in the NBA. Even with Dario Saric‘s struggles, his addition to an already-effective rotation gave the Sixers a combination of length and versatility that many teams struggle to match.

A lot of this, of course, comes back to Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. Simmons is already among the league’s best point guards, which can’t be said for most 21-year-olds. Joel Embiid seems like a transcendent talent as well, giving the Sixers two cornerstones with the potential to carry them a heck of a lot further than, say, Jrue Holiday.

Must Read: Is Ben Simmons a fad or a new NBA era?

Even without a jumper, Simmons can get wherever he wants on the floor. His gravity when driving the lane is comparable to only a few players around the league, while his unique size (combined with an insanely high basketball I.Q.) allows him to exploit a wide variety of passing angles.

Embiid is in turn one of the leauge’s best defenders, while Robert Covington has established himself as a premier 3-and-D talent. Add J.J. Redick‘s shooting and Saric’s recent improvements, and it’s tough to picture this group falling off any time soon.

We’ve finally reached the point where we can say The Process worked. The whole point was to set the Sixers up for prolonged success, something that has clearly happened. Health and the NBA’s unpredicability will always leave room for error, but the job Sam Hinkie set out to do has been completed.

Next: 2018 NBA Mock Draft 1.0

The Sixers have two of the best young players in the league, as well as a level of optimism that is virtually unparralleled around the NBA landscape. We’re watching the emergence of a really good basketball team, so I suggest you sit back and enjoy it.