Philadelphia 76ers: Record predictions for the 2019-20 season

Christopher Kline

This is something I’ve written about for our sister site Hoops Habit, so if you want full record predictions for all 30 teams, check ’em out. Luckily the Sixers qualify as one of the 30 NBA teams, so I can further explain my reasoning for a 55-win projection.

On paper, the Sixers have a real shot to win 60+ games and hold the NBA’s highest record. It’s possible — there’s more than enough talent on the roster, and Brett Brown is a sturdy regular season coach.

Where my concerns emanate are injuries and chemistry. It’s clear the Sixers are working extra hard this summer, motivated by the pain of a second-round loss to Toronto. Embiid dropped 20 pounds, Ben Simmons hit a 3-pointer, and Tobias Harris wants to defend. Having a stable group in training camp is also a luxury Brown has seldom had during his Sixers tenure.

Philadelphia’s chemistry should improve in comparison to the 2018-19 unit. Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris never found their strides, for various reasons. Some blame goes to Brown, some goes to Butler and Harris, and some goes to ulterior factors such as rhythm, timing, and personal things. It’s hard to fit four borderline All-Stars together mid-season.

Even with improvement, though, the Sixers lack a degree of shooting and shot creation that could make the offense clunky at times. Embiid, Harris, and Simmons provide more than enough firepower to survive (and thrive), but it’s foolish to expect a seamless transition into the regular season. Give it time.

Also, health. Embiid is Embiid, Horford is 33, and it’s tough to guarantee a healthy roster for 82 games, regardless of the team you’re projecting for. It’s sometimes best to keep arbitrary injury speculation out of record predictions, but Embiid will miss time. It’s a guarantee, whether it’s a healthy scratch, a knee flare-up, or something in between. Horford will probably get days off as well.

The Sixers are better prepared to deal with absences this season. There’s no denying the improved depth, even if it pales in comparison to some NBA elites. The bench will do, but it’s not enough to void concerns over Embiid’s potential absences.

In the end, it’s reasonable to project Philadelphia as a comfortable No. 2 seed with a real chance to beat Milwaukee in the postseason.

Final prediction: 55-27

Let us know your prediction in the comments!