The Sixer Sense
Fansided

5 bold predictions for the Philadelphia 76ers next season

By Rusty Gorelick

Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA,PA – DECEMBER 15 : Joel Embiid #21 and Markelle Fultz #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers share a smile and handshake prior to the game 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 and Markelle Fultz #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers share a smile and handshake prior to the game 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) /

1. Drew Hanlen helps Fultz and Embiid improve greatly

Prediction: Fultz shoots at least 37 percent from deep; Embiid shoots at least 37 percent from deep and averages fewer than 2.5 turnovers per game.

As mentioned earlier, Markelle Fultz and Joel Embiid have worked with famous basketball trainer Drew Hanlen this summer to gear up for this coming season. Many of Hanlen’s clients have seen exponential growth after a summer with him, and there’s no reason why Fultz and Embiid will not follow in the footsteps of Bradley Beal and Jayson Tatum, who saw a lot of growth under the trainer’s guidance.

Tatum saw his three-point percentage rise around nine percentage points between his lone season at Duke and his rookie year with the Celtics. That should calm fans down about Fultz because he showed that he could shoot when he played at Washington, so all Hanlen has to do is help Fultz find his stroke and build his confidence rather than rebuild his shot from scratch.

Hanlen praised both of his trainees from Philly, mentioning Fultz’s hard work and Embiid’s basketball I.Q. in particular. The trainer still has not released a much-anticipated video of Fultz’s shot after the makeover, but based on Hanlen’s track record with NBA players, there’s a good chance the 2017 first-overall pick gets back to normal.

Embiid has worked on limiting his turnovers and hitting threes at a higher rate this summer. As everyone likes to point out, he still has less than a decade of basketball experience, but he already has made himself into an MVP candidate at the age of 24. If any Sixer will make huge leaps by the time the season starts, it’s the Process. He loves basketball and finally has an offseason where he can focus on getting better at basketball rather than recovering from an injury.

Fultz has a lot less pressure on him going into this season. No one expects too much from him right away, and he will not be caught up in the Rookie of the Year/Is He A Rookie debate since he played in 14 games last season. If he comes back with at least an average three-point shot and Embiid limits his turnovers, then even the West’s best teams should be wary of the Sixers.