Philadelphia 76ers: The Last Dance – The Process Sixers

Episode X

FINALLY CHAMPIONS

Most teams have their demons, controversies, or pariahs. In the 76ers’ case, they seem to have had it all… and then some. General George Patton once said, “pressure makes diamonds.” The pressure for this team to justify the Process with a championship was as high as ever after the emergence of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, along with the moves to acquire J.J. Redick, Jimmy Butler, and Tobias Harris. The wound of the playoff loss to the Boston Celtics in 2018 was still fresh, and the disappointment lingered in the players’ mind like a nightmare.

The 2019 playoffs were upon them, and they were determined to shut up all of the critics. The 76ers would handle the Brooklyn Nets in five games. Their young stars stepped up in key situations as the veterans showed leadership throughout the series.

Their next opponent, the Toronto Raptors, would be a formidable opponent, led by former champion Kawhi Leonard. The series went to a seventh game in Toronto, where a missed last second shot by the Klaw in regulation gave the Sixers hope in overtime. This is where the Butler trade paid dividends. Jimmy Butler gave the Sixers the boost they needed by scoring all 10 of his team’s points in overtime to secure the win.

In another tight series with the Milwaukee Bucks, Giannis Antetokounmpo showed why he was the league’s MVP, dominating the series on both ends of the floor. However, it would not be enough to overcome the depth of the 76ers. In game seven against the Bucks, Joel Embiid recorded a triple-double and led his team to victory on the road.

Next up — the Golden State Warriors. Even though the league’s reigning champions put up a  valiant effort in the Finals against the 76ers, the absence of their stars put a huge hole in their offensive game. Unable to match the scoring of Embiid, Butler, and Harris, Steve Kerr’s squad relinquished its crown to the 76ers in five games. For the first time since the days of Julius Erving and Moses Malone, the Sixers were champions again.

Back to the dream . . . . . . . . . .

Joel Embiid downs his last Shirley Temple and requests a chicken sandwich. Not on the menu. He sighs, but winning a championship returns a smile to his face. As the interview wraps up, Ben Simmons approaches the scene and challenges Embiid to a jet ski race. Brett Brown watches his two stars frolic down the beach. He reflects on the darkest days during the Process. Off camera, a crew member jokes, “I guess it was all worth it, huh?” Brown, grins and shakes his head, replying in his Boston/Aussie accent, “ Maaww than yill eva know.”

THE END.