The Sixer Sense
Fansided

Can Philadelphia 76ers make 4th seed in NBA Playoffs?

By Bret Stuter

OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 11: The 2017 NBA Championship ring is presented to James Michael McAdoo
OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 11: The 2017 NBA Championship ring is presented to James Michael McAdoo /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – JANUARY 24: Ben Simmons
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JANUARY 24: Ben Simmons /

Simmons is an elite NBA rookie

Fact II – Ben Simmons ability to record triple-double places him in elite NBA company. Ben Simmons recorded his second triple-double in just nine games.

Before the All-Star break, he is up to five triple doubles. That ties the rookie record for triple doubles by a rookie set by Alvan Adams, who set the rookie record for most triple doubles by a rookie for the Phoenix Suns in the 1975-1976 season.

Point guard, point forward, point him to post-season

Ben Simmons becomes the second “unique” factor with the Philadelphia 76ers. No other team plays a 6-foot-10 player at the point. So preparing to face the 76ers means teams must train specific plays, execute unique schemes, to neutralize this team. And that is easier said than done when facing Simmons:

So there are two facts. But this team continues to improve. Suddenly Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot is averaging 8.9 points and 56.3 percent from three-point range. Likewise T.J. McConnell is at 9.0 points and 55.6 percent shooting from the perimeter. This team has three games remaining in January 2018.  Win two of the three, and the team enters February 2018 at 26-22.