Philadelphia 76ers: Grading possible outcomes of the 2018-19 season

Grade: A++

The Philadelphia 76ers pull off the unthinkable. From the City of Brotherly Love, there is a new NBA Champion. Everything in the Finals goes the Sixers way. Joel Embiid elevates from superstar talent to all-time great player. The Process wins Finals MVP averaging 32 points, 14 rebounds, and six assists while shooting 54 percent from the floor.

Ben Simmons averages a triple-double. Tobias Harris and Jimmy Butler both score in the low 20s in all seven games. J.J. Redick has an other-worldly Game 6 with 29 points while shooting 7-9 on three-pointers. The bench holds their own, as well. T.J. McConnell is good for seven assists per game and is too quick for Shaun Livingston or Quinn Cook to handle. Jonathan Simmons is able to play lockdown defense on Klay Thompson and Steph Curry has several cold shooting nights. Boban Marjanovic stuffs a Steph Curry layup in the third quarter of Game 6 which leads to a Mike Scott transition three-point shot.

The Sixers never look back as they send the series back to Oakland with a 102-99 victory. With all the pressure on the Dubs, the Sixers do what the Rockets did for much of last season’s Conference Finals. They force the Warriors into isolation basketball. The Warriors lack ball rotation and cuts, leading to stagnant offense and multiple clock violations.

The physicality and athleticism of the Sixers combined with their hustle are too much for the finesse Warriors to counter. Brett Brown prepares his defensive schemes well with proper rotations and switching. The Sixers recover well in transition.

Their pick-and-roll eats up both Steph Curry and DeMarcus Cousins for dinner. Andre Iguodala becomes a non-factor on offense and shows his age on defense trying to cover the Sixers’ wings. The battle becomes a fight to the death but the Sixers talent outlasts the Warriors. Kevin Durant averages 30 points in the series but the defense falters, especially with Draymond Green becoming a liability on both sides of the floor.

J.J. Redick is fouled with six seconds left and hits a pair of free throws to put the Sixers up by four. The clock winds down as Durant hoists a three pointer and the game ends with the Philadelphia 76ers as NBA Champions.

The All-NBA Teams and All-Defensive Teams remain the same. Brett Brown silences any doubters. Elton Brand wins Executive of the Year. Harris and Butler both sign deals to remain in Philadelphia long-term. The Warriors dynasty comes to a close as Kevin Durant and DeMarcus Cousins leave in free agency.

Philadelphia has the city’s fourth title in four seasons. The miracle finally happens. The Process ultimately pays off and other tanking teams begin their attempts to replicate it more than ever before.