The Sixer Sense
Fansided

5 reasons why Philadelphia 76ers compete for 2018-19 NBA Championship

By Bret Stuter

PHILADELPHIA,PA - FEBRUARY 12 : T.J. McConnell #12 of the Philadelphia 76ers is interviewed by Molly Sullivan while Joel Embiid #21 and Robert Covington #33 pours water over him in congratulations after a fantastic game against the New York Knicks at Wells Fargo Center on February 12, 2018 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA,PA - FEBRUARY 12 : T.J. McConnell #12 of the Philadelphia 76ers is interviewed by Molly Sullivan while Joel Embiid #21 and Robert Covington #33 pours water over him in congratulations after a fantastic game against the New York Knicks at Wells Fargo Center on February 12, 2018 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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However the 2017-2018 season ends, the Philadelphia 76ers are built so well that the team should compete for a 2018-2019 NBA Championship

Each year Philadelphia 76ers fans find themselves caught in that annual struggle: optimism or fatalistically pragmatic.  And for years the fatalists/pragmatists have won the battle – so to speak. The Philadelphia 76ers, investing heavily in youth with tremendous talent, had struggled to compete with the seasoned and pedigreed teams.

It was more than simply a youth movement, as the Philadelphia 76ers have been, unquestionably, one of the most injury plagued teams since head coach Brett Brown has run the team. By design? By accident? It’s tough to parse out a cause and effect.  What is clear is that the team did not win many games.  But that is all changing in the 2017-2018 season.

Peaking at the right time

Right now the team is 34-27 and faces just 21 more games. Playing at a 4-2 clip since the All Star Break, the team has finally won back-to-back games, a bane on the season so far. And by all rights the team has one of the strongest starting five lineups in the NBA today. This team boasts center Joel Embiid, power forward Dario Saric, small forward Robert Covington, shooting guard J.J. Redick, and point guard Ben Simmons.

Is it the fact that nobody took this team seriously until now? Or is it the  unique skills and dimensions of the Sixers which make them such a very dangerous opponent this season?   Now with a bench bolstered with the additions of double digit scoring Marco Belinelli and Ersan Ilyasova, the team is as strong as ever. In any case, head coach Brett Brown has this team playing some of the best NBA defense and offense in the league.  Win projections for this team have landed anywhere from the mid 40’s to 50. That’s good enough for an NBA playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.  Quite an improvement from a 28 win team a season ago, and 10 wins just two years ago, eh? Still, what of next season?