The January Sixers continue to impress

By Christopher Kline | Jan 21, 2018

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 11: Dikembe Mutombo and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers talk prior to the start of the game against the Boston Celtics on January 11, 2018 at The O2 Arena in London, England as part of the 2018 NBA London Global Game. 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Philadelphia 76ers and January do well together.

At this point, the Philadelphia 76ers are the most predictable team in the league. They play well early in games, blow leads late, and continue to thrive in the month of January. Last season they were 10-5 in the first month of the new year, and this season they have the best net rating of any team since Christmas.

There’s no clear-cut explanation for this trend. In 2017, Joel Embiid was starting to find his groove and playing at an All-Star pace up until his injury. This year, the Sixers are going through one of the league’s easiest schedules after running the gaunlet earlier in the season.

Thus far in Janurary, the Sixers have won five of their six games. Their one loss was to the Celtics in London, a game in which they held a 22-point lead at one point. They’re also operating under the BASEDGOD’s blessing, which may or may not be playing a part in their sudden success.

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As for what’s changing on the court, a few things are worth pointing out: starting with J.J. Redick‘s stellar play.

The Sixers sharpshooter has missed the last couple of games with a left leg injury, but before that he was playing his best basketball of the season. Redick is currently the second-leading scorer on the team, but his averages spiked to 19.5 points while shooting 48.1 percent from deep in his four January games.

There’s a good chance we don’t see him again until February, though.

Philly has also won their past two games, both without Redick. So J.J. isn’t the only thing contributing to their success. That’s where Embiid deserves credit as somebody who continues to anchor the Sixers on both sides of the ball.

In no sane-minded world in Embiid not the best center in the Eastern Conference. His combination of physical gifts and skill at 7-foot-2 doesn’t come around all that often, and he continues to shoulder the bulk of the Sixers’ offensive load while spearheading a top-five defense whenever he’s on the court.

Part of the Sixers’ success is just having him on the court. They’ve always looked like a playoff team when Jo is playing, and Embiid has been healthy all month. No back soreness and no back-to-backs throwing off the team’s rhythm. The London trip, even though the Sixers lost, gave them almost a week off.

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That’s a nice mid-season hiatus for somebody like Embiid.

They’re also closing out games, which was a massive struggle in December. Turnover issues still bite them every now and then, but their execution in big moments has improved drastically. Even if they blow a lead, they’re closing strong and making the right plays down the stretch. Their latest win over Toronto was the best example of that.

T.J. McConnell is also balling out. His halfcourt playmaking is an underrated part of this offense and he continues to play a big role in their late-game execution. If he continues to produce at this level, he at least deserves a quick mention in the Sixth Man of the Year conversation, even if he’s in no position to win the award.

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All of that factors into the Sixers’ success, although the BASEDGOD’s blessing is probably most important. Right now, Philly is the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference and would face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round. Trust The Process, and knock on wood.