NBA Team Preview: Philadelphia 76ers

Last season the Philadelphia 76ers saw “The Process” come to sight in full swing. The team earned the number one seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Unfortunately, the team was unable to capitalize on their regular-season success and ended up being upset by the Atlanta Hawks in the conference semi-finals.

The Sixers have been the head of a lot of scrutiny in the offseason and with all of the question marks that are surrounding All-Star Ben Simmons, it is tough to predict if this team can repeat their regular-season success from last season.

Key Additions:

The 76ers knew they had to get tougher in the paint and gain some much-needed veteran leadership as well. The signed Center Andre Drummond, who last year for the Lakers averaged 14.9 points while playing an average of 24.8 minutes per game. The Sixers also were able to add additional depth with the signings of Point Guard Grant Riller and Power Forward Georges Niang. These additions plus the majority of their lineup from last year still intact are posed to help this team return to the top of the Eastern Conference.

Impactful Subtractions:

While the Ben Simmons saga continues, he still is under contract with the 76ers and has recently reported to Philadelphia. Time will tell if that relationship will mend and become what it once was but for the time being, he is still a Sixer. The Sixers did not re-sign veteran Point Guard George Hill. Hill averaged only six points per game with 18 minutes played per game for the season. Having a veteran behind Ben Simmons is a key priority for the Sixers, so the hope is the young players in the point position will have enough depth with their guard situation.

Key Players:

Obviously, the Philadelphia 76ers train begins and stops with their NBA MVP hopeful Joel Embiid. The NBA All-Star averaged 28.5 points per game last season and was looked at as an NBA MVP candidate the entire regular season. Along with Embiid, Power Forward Tobias Harris is a key player for the Sixers. He was signed to a max deal when he entered free agency and is being paid as a top guy on the roster. If he can slide into the number two option for this offense the Sixers should be in good hands.

Their roster will ultimately shake out when the Simmons situation gets figured out. If he stays and buys into what the Sixers staff and management want from him, then this team has every chance and reason to contend for an NBA championship. If he chooses not to, then he will be traded and the Sixers will look to get a better or equal return for their young point guard.

Final Outlook:

The Philadelphia 76ers come into the 2021-22 season with some unfinished business. If they can figure out their off-court issues, this team should have no issues in repeating their success from last season.

Philadelphia’s estimated win total for this upcoming season is 50.5 wins. Last season, the Sixers recorded 49 wins so 50.5 is a viable outcome for this team to have. 

The Sixers are expected to finish around the 3.5 seed in the conference at the end of the season. They are a +750 to win the Eastern Conference in the 2021-22 season. 

Currently, the Philadelphia 76ers sit at +2000 odds to win the NBA championship. That is slotted as the 8th best odds in the league.

Overall, the Philadelphia 76ers have some questions that they will need to be answered if they want to contend for an NBA championship. If Head Coach, Doc Rivers, and company can get this entire group to buy into a new vision for the franchise, the Sixers could repeat as Eastern Conference favorites and be a potential team at the NBA Finals in June.

* All odds provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.