The Sixer Sense
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What if the Philadelphia 76ers don’t live up to the expectations?

By Christopher Croom

PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 24: Dario Saric #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers talks to Ben Simmons #25 during a timeout in the first quarter against the Orlando Magic at the Wells Fargo Center on February 24, 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. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 24: Dario Saric #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers talks to Ben Simmons #25 during a timeout in the first quarter against the Orlando Magic at the Wells Fargo Center on February 24, 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. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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What if the Philadelphia 76ers don’t get better this year?

Anytime a team has a successful season off a run of poor seasons, there are two responses: 1) fans expect that the team will do even better than the breakout performance or 2) commentators and critics talk about how much of a fluke it was, and how things will be different next year. The discussion is usually a polarizing one, with not a lot of dialogue in the middle.

Many have skillfully laid sundry words and copious proverbial ink over the former… but what if things take a turn for the worse? What if the Philadelphia 76ers don’t make that improvement? Are there reasons to believe the 76ers might not live up to the lofty expectations so many are prepared to see?

There are so many things that have changed the landscape of the Eastern Conference, and we know the well documented offseason the Liberty Ballers have experienced—from the General Manager situation, to the “star-hunt,” to the injuries. Is there enough time to gel it all together, to come up with a successful season?

Its time to play devil’s advocate.

Turnovers

With 16.5 turnovers per game, league leading, here’s a fair place to start.

The fact of the matter is that the two conspicuous parties here are T.J. McConnell and Ben Simmons. The two guards committed a significant number of turnovers, and it may have cost the Sixers even better position in the playoff brackets, if not playoff games themselves.

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Its easy to say that the reason they have so many turnovers is because they handle the ball the most. Maybe that is worth looking into.

If you look, here is what you will find: Of the “league leaders” or top 10 in turnovers (a bit of counterintuitive phraseology), that made the playoffs (and we will include the Denver Nuggets since they were so close), the only team that did not have point guards as the top five culprits of turnovers, is the Golden State Warriors.

Bottom line: champions take care of the ball. While Golden State as a team may have turned the ball over a lot, their star players did not. Thompson, Green, Curry and Durant have enormous usage numbers, but do not lead the team in turnovers.

If Philadelphia wants to raise its status level, standouts need to learn to protect the ball. Frankly, this was the only bad offensive stat as a team; but it could be fatal should the other numbers drop. They have generally been the worst team in the NBA regarding turnovers, since the 2013-14 season.

Shooting

Philadelphia shot exceptionally well. The Sixers shot 37.1 percent on all non-corner threes, which put them in the top seven percentile for the league. Their corner three percentage (which is statically one of the highest percentage places to shoot from) put them in the middle of the pack, but overall the top eighth percentile for all threes. That is really good.

However, two of their top six shooters have exited the City of Brotherly Love and departed for perceived greener pasture. How will that effect this team going forward? Their replacements, Wilson Chandler and Mike Muscala ,will be good additions, but can they replace the production from beyond the arc?

Philadelphia may get by on the power and ability of Simmons and Embiid, but the facts are in—you need shooting in the NBA—and where that shooting will come from remains a mystery (because we don’t know what to expect from Fultz).

The replacements

Speaking of newcomers… the Philadelphia 76ers also are bringing in a few rookies and trade acquisition/free agent faces.

Shake Milton, Landry Shamet, and Zhaire Smith come in off the 2018 NBA Draft, looking to make an impact. Combine them with Mike Muscala, and Wilson Chandler and that gives us five players who have no regular season playing time with this team.

How will they factor in? Can they gel with the new team?

When you look at the past performances of Chandler and Muscala, it appears they should fit in very well. The same can be said of the three rookies. Though, when we the last time you seriously heard other fans respond to new faces and completely reject the notion that they can provide any significant help at all?

Most fans spend their off-season dreaming about all the possibilities, not the impending doom that inevitably surfaces. There are a lot of mysteries surrounding our new additions.

There is so much to be excited about—but equally enough shrouded in uncertainty that this will be quite the ride this season.

dark. Next. 3 remaining free agents Sixers should consider

What is your take? Are there really any concerns big enough to make you think there may not be as much progress as some hope for? Or are you popping your popcorn, and getting buckled in for a thrill ride?

Leave your thoughts in the comments.

*All statistics courtesy of cleaningtheglass.com