This past season, the Sixers were one of the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference and potentially win the NBA Championship. However, those plans were dashed as the Sixers fell to the Atlanta Hawks in the second round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs. It is more than likely that the Philadelphia 76ers will once again be seen as NBA Championship contenders. However, if they wish to reach the NBA Finals in 2022, there are a few factors that the Sixers must achieve to get there.
Here are three factors that can help the Sixers reach the finals in 2022.
How Sixers can reach the NBA Finals: Joel Embiid must play at MVP level again
Last season, Joel Embiid was unstoppable when he was on the court. “The Process” put up averages of 28.5 points per game, 10.6 rebounds per game, and 2.8 assists per game. Embiid was also once again impressive on the defensive side of the ball, averaging 1.0 steal and 1.4 blocks per game. Embiid’s impact on the Sixers’ success last year was big.
Joel went down with an injury in the middle of the 2020-21 season. This injury limited him to playing 55 games out of 72 last season.
He finished the season as an MVP finalist, ultimately losing the award to fellow center Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets. Many believe that if Embiid was never injured last season, he would’ve walked away with the NBA MVP award.