The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Are you buying the Sixers’ success?

By Christopher Kline

PHOENIX, AZ - DECEMBER 31: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers stands on the court during the first half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 31, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. The 76ers defeated the Suns 123-110. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - DECEMBER 31: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers stands on the court during the first half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 31, 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona. The 76ers defeated the Suns 123-110. 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 Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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The Philadelphia 76ers are on a four-game win streak. Are they for real, or is this just another hot streak?

After trudging through December, the Philadelphia 76ers are back on track. They’ve won four straight, advancing to 19-19 and inserting themselves back into the playoff discussion. For a young team facing one of the league’s toughest schedules, it’s tough to ask for more than that.

There’s still some doubt, though — and rightfully so. This is a young team that looked really bad a month ago and there are still some glaring holes on the roster. They’re by no means perfect, and the continued uncertainty around Joel Embiid‘s health doesn’t help.

There’s plenty of room for this season to go south (again), and nothing sums that up better than the feelings fans experience almost every Sixers game. They get a lead, then fans are left hoping they don’t blow it. That’s always the first thought that comes to mind.

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So the question is relatively simple: are you buying the Sixers recent success? Are they a legitimate playoff team, or can you expect some slippage in the coming weeks?

Production outside of Embiid, Simmons

The first thing you have to look at is the supporting cast, how well they’ve been playing, and whether or not their current production is sustainable. We know J.J. Redick and Dario Saric have been balling out lately, but it’s fair to question how long that will last.

During the Sixers’ four-game win streak, Redick is averaging 20.3 points per game while shooting 45.8 percent from deep. Saric is putting together 18.3 points while shooting 55 percent from deep.

Redick’s career average from is 41.4 percent from 3-point range, and he’s actually been shooting a shade below that all season. This is the biggest offensive role Redick has had during his 11-year career, so him needing time to adjust is understandable.

Being that Redick is essentially Brett Brown’s go-to option outside of Embiid and Ben Simmons, him putting up 20 points is becoming pretty common. His average might not stick there, but you can reasonably expect him to continue shooting at a high clip while carrying a big chunk of the Sixers’ offense.

That’s what they gave him $23 million for.

Dario is a bit more questionable. He struggled with consistency last season and for most of this season, so his recent hot streak probably won’t last. Long term, I think it’s safe to assume he’s more of a league-average shooter who functions best as a secondary playmaker whenever Embiid sits.

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Those two, aside from the Sixers’ core duo, have been the driving force behind their recent success. I don’t think they’ll fall off a cliff, but some regression — at least from Saric — is almost a given.

Simmons’ improved mentality

With that said, it’s Simmons whose play has impressed the most during the Sixers’ streak. He’s upping his aggressiveness and taking on a bigger role in close games, something he struggled with during December.

If he’s willing to keep taking free throws and continues to embrace late-game scenarios, this could mark the next step in Simmons’ progression as a player. His lack of a jumper is a hole, but it’s one he’s capable of covering up.

That alone could go a long way in helping the Sixers avoid those collapses they trademarked earlier in the year. We know Philly can compete at a high level, it’s just a matter of whether or not they can compete for four quarters.

Verdict

Overall, expect the Sixers to fall somewhere between the two extremes as the season goes on. They aren’t going to keep shooting lights out like they are right now, but they aren’t nearly as bad as December made them look. Young teams and inconsistency go hand-in-hand.

The Sixers are currently half a game outside the playoffs, narrowly trailing the Indiana Pacers. The seventh seed is Detroit, who the Sixers are more than capable of outplaying. It’s fair to categorize the Sixers as playoff favorites, even if they don’t rise above the bottom two or three seeds.

Next: 3 things contributing to the Sixers' recent success

I’m buying the Sixers’ success to some degree. They aren’t the team people expected entering the season, but those expectations were always dangerously high.