While currently sitting only barely within the surefire playoff picture in the East, the Philadelphia 76ers still have some reasons to believe that they can trump all expectations and make a deep postseason run this year. When fully healthy, this team is capable of going toe to toe with any ball club, and that certainly appears to be the sentiment among the public.
In fact, longtime NBA agent Rich Paul warned everyone against deeming the 76ers a cakewalk come playoff time. In a recent podcast appearance, he went on record to say that he is high on Philly’s chances in the postseason due to a couple of factors — their top-end talent they have on their roster and their notoriously passionate crowd.
Indeed, the 76ers have two of those things on their arsenal, which makes them a tough opponent in the context of a seven-game series. As such, people should not count them out just yet, especially with Joel Embiid now back and running after a handful of games missed just recently due to injury. This team can easily end up being the absolute wildcard in the playoffs.
The 76ers have what it takes to shock everyone and make a run for the title
Paul has been around and closely associated with players like LeBron James, so he is surely familiar with underdog stories and coming out on top by virtue of raw, dominant talent for the most part. Hence, his estimation of what the 76ers are capable of should not just be glossed over.
Indeed, Philly has a robust collection of high-end stars on their roster. Embiid is back to looking like his dominant self from a couple of years ago. Tyrese Maxey has played at an All-NBA level all season long. Paul George, while no longer an offensive savant, remains a highly impactful two-way contributor with ample playoff experience to boot.
On the edges, the 76ers also have rookie sensation VJ Edgecombe and veteran forward Kelly Oubre Jr. Those are great players to have surrounding those three.
From a talent standpoint, not a lot of teams can truly say that they pack more raw talent than the 76ers. And in the playoffs, having a more talented group can often help cover up a lot of mistakes and close the gap between good and truly elite squads.
The 76ers home crowd also cannot be ignored. While the team currently has a meager 15-15 record at the Xfinity Mobile Arena, a more intense audience at home should make a world of difference when the postseason kicks off.
For these reasons, the 76ers cannot just be tossed to the side. This team, as long as the stars align, has what it takes to shock the world and claim the chip for themselves.