The Sixer Sense
Fansided

As Philadelphia 76ers improve, Cleveland Cavaliers falter

By Bret Stuter

PHILADELPHIA,PA - DECEMBER 15 : Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers gets instruction from Head Coach Brett Brown against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Wells Fargo Center on December 15, 2017 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 2016 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA,PA - DECEMBER 15 : Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers gets instruction from Head Coach Brett Brown against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Wells Fargo Center on December 15, 2017 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 2016 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Philadelphia 76ers
PHILADELPHIA,PA – DECEMBER 15 : Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers gets instruction from Head Coach Brett Brown against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Wells Fargo Center on December 15, 2017 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 2016 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Motivation takes guts

Why so genius? Well, the Philadelphia 76ers have lots of moving parts. And they must all synchronize to make good things happen. The team does not compete for a playoff spot if the coaching staff starts all rookies. And for the early part of the season, injuries forced the team to do just that. Well, players still in development stage.

The team does not improve the bench without signing Marco Belinelli, Ersan Ilyasova, and then getting Markelle Fultz to give the entire bench a spark. It is a series of moves needed with a unified goal in mind. This team began aiming at a playoff run in October 2017. A young team on a course for greatness starts slowly. But the trajectory was predictable.

Here They Come

Nobody is welcoming the Philadelphia 76ers to the upper echelons of the NBA. Nobody is talking about Coach Brown as NBA Coach of the Year. But he should be. The Philadelphia 76ers have played hard for Coach Brown no matter what the roster held.  As such, no head coach deserves a playoff appearance more than Brown. But getting there means the team must win.

The team is winning, not by accident, but because Joel Embiid said they should be. That lightning rod effect of social media did not just attract attention from opposing forces. It became a rallying cry from within the organization.  People began to ask “Why can’t we?”  as they lined up to contribute to the team which existed in Joel Embiid’s vision.