The Sixer Sense
Fansided

5 New Years resolutions for 2018 Philadelphia 76ers

By Bret Stuter

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 16: The lottery balls are picked inside the lottery room during the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery at the New York Hilton in New York, New York. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 16: The lottery balls are picked inside the lottery room during the 2017 NBA Draft Lottery at the New York Hilton in New York, New York. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jennifer Pottheiser/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – DECEMBER 15: Joel Embiid
PHILADELPHIA, PA – DECEMBER 15: Joel Embiid /

Resolution I – Joel Embiid will start 60 games or more for the season

The key to the Philadelphia 76ers is the durability of Joel Embiid.  So far, fans seem to be rather unfounded.  Fragility appears to be a mirage, as the night of the game with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Joel Embiid was listed as a “game-time decision”.

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Bill Simmons 'guarantees' Knicks will have one of three stars by next year
Bill Simmons 'guarantees' Knicks will have one of three stars by next year /

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    • He played the entire game, including overtime, to amass 39 minutes of playing time. He’s played 23 of the possible 30 games for the team.  At that pace, he will play 67 games this season. If he can keep up that pace.  You see, he played a triple overtime game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, a game which saw him play 49 minutes.  That game fell on December 15, 2017.

    He hasn’t played since.

    The hope is that he will play on December 25, 2017 against the New York Knicks. That means he will miss two more games.  Still, the goal of 60 games or better appears very doable, even with this blip in the schedule.  So why is this so important?

    The bottom line is post season.  This team is built around the talents of Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. If Embiid is not playing, the team simply does not have enough players who can make their own shots.  Defenses can track patterns and thwart the team.  If the Philadelphia 76ers have any hope of tasting post-season play, it will be on the back of Joel Embiid.