What is the biggest obstacle the Sixers need to overcome to reach the NBA finals?

[eyeatoma]

The Sixers have been a pretend contender for the last 3-4 years. They have been 2nd round fodder and have lost in a number of ways. Ben Simmons disappearing, Joel Embiid getting injured an umpteen number of times. Doc Rivers shooting them in the foot. James Harden no show's.

What is the biggest factor that Philly will need to overcome to reach the NBA finals this year?

IMO, the #1 factor will be Embiid's health.

2nd would be Harden's need for consistency in the playoffs.

Doc Rivers and his ability to orchestrate an epic choke would be the next obstacle to overcome.

Last IMO would be the Sixers opponents.

I'm not trying to insult their opponents, because IMO right now Boston is a better team, not because they're more talented but because they're battle tested. Milwaukee you could say are equally battle tested, but I don't see them as formidable as the celtics due to injuries and Giannis clearly having some health issues. Brooklyn is a wildcard, and need a lot to go right, but they could definitely be in the mix.

In your opinion what will it take for the to reach the finals, and how likely do you see that happening this year.

Apart from any year I've seen excluding Jimmy Butler being on the team, I have not seen a better team for Philly to make a title run.

I'd like to hear how others feel.

[Wolfgang630]

I think Embiid’s health is most important

[eyeatoma]

I think Embiid’s health is most important

Agreed, how likely is it that they make the finals? Do you like their chances? After that who do you see as their biggest threat?

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[-Luke-]

All of the above to be honest. But Embiid's health is most important.

Doc: The playoff collapses of his teams are well known. But one team has already won a title with Doc as a coach. So it is not an insurmountable obstacle.

Harden: He is clearly the No. 2 behind Embiid. If he focuses on playmaking, his team can compensate for a bad night from him. I think this version of Harden is less vulnerable to big collapses than the Houston version of Harden.

Potential opponents: Obviously a big factor. But I don't see a team were I would give the Sixers a 0% chance if they (Sixers) are healthy.

Embiid: If Embiid is not healthy, the Sixers have literally a 0% chance to win the title. This is the only obstancle the Sixers cannot overcome.

[Long2_noD]

Health of star players is most important for each contender, so that's a null argument for me.

Doc Rivers has had a well documented history of being out-coached in the playoffs. In order to beat BOS and/or MIL they will really need to overcome that. I wouldn't hold my breath.

[eyeatoma]

All of the above to be honest. But Embiid's health is most important.

Doc: The playoff collapses of his teams are well known. But one team has already won a title with Doc as a coach. So it is not an insurmountable obstacle.

Harden: He is clearly the No. 2 behind Embiid. If he focuses on playmaking, his team can compensate for a bad night from him. I think this version of Harden is less vulnerable to big collapses than the Houston version of Harden.

Potential opponents: Obviously a big factor. But I don't see a team were I would give the Sixers a 0% chance if they (Sixers) are healthy.

Embiid: If Embiid is not healthy, the Sixers have literally a 0% chance to win the title. This is the only obstancle the Sixers cannot overcome.

Well said, thanks for your contribution!

[eyeatoma]

Health of star players is most important for each contender, so that's a null argument for me.

Doc Rivers has had a well documented history of being out-coached in the playoffs. In order to beat BOS and/or MIL they will really need to overcome that. I wouldn't hold my breath.

Yup, unfortunately, I completely agree with you on Doc. We could have everything go right, and he could still **** it up.

[mediocrityrules]

I just don't trust a Doc Rivers coached team.

[lonzo_pelota]

76ers are a good team no doubt , but something tells me its no way the 76ers get past a healthy Boston, New Jersey, Milwaukee or Cavs with Doc at the helm this season. If any of these teams have significant injuries then maybe the impossible can happen and then ultimately they'll lose in the finals after being up 2-0 or 3-0.

[76ciology]

Biggest obstacle for every team is the health of their top player.

[76ciology]

How will the Sixers reach the finals?

Unstoppable pick and roll.
Elite ISO from both Harden and Embiid.
Best scoring bench trio lead by 21ppg of Maxey, along with Milton and Niang.
Being able to turn it up on defense if they want to.

Embiid 33ppg
Harden 21ppg
Maxey 21ppg
Tobias 16ppg
Melton 11ppg
Milton 10ppg
Niang 9ppg

121 pts

[Pumpkin17]

The problem for the sixers Is that they look and feel in some sense "entitled" even if they never get past second round.

Everyone Is always looking at them as this contending team with great superstars while they have actually proved nothing. This in turns means they act and play like multiple Chips/MVPs winners, while they should just shut up, put their heads down and hustle like they have to prove something. Cause they have to.

This attitude won't lead them to a championship and it involves their coach and main players. Mind you, they have a great team and could potentially actually contend, but at some point you need to stop looking for excuses for everything and just demonstrate you belong in those discussions.

[76ciology]

The problem for the sixers Is that they look and feel in some sense "entitled" even if they never get past second round.

Everyone Is always looking at them as this contending team with great superstars while they have actually proved nothing. This in turns means they act and play like multiple Chips/MVPs winners, while they should just shut up, put their heads down and hustle like they have to prove something. Cause they have to.

This attitude won't lead them to a championship and it involves their coach and main players. Mind you, they have a great team and could potentially actually contend, but at some point you need to stop looking for excuses for everything and just demonstrate you belong in those discussions.

Sorry but can you give me proofs for these? Maybe ive missed something

[Sofia]

Even if healthy, I don’t think they can win with Doc.

[cam24thomas]

Well they almost lost to the KD-less Brooklyn Nets at Philadelphia, so that's a gigantic obstacle

[165bows]

Should prob add spending somewhere down the list. Hard to win without going deeper into the tax unless you have multiple guys on really great deals.

Can’t let money keep you from the move that pushes you over the top.

[eyeatoma]

76ers are a good team no doubt , but something tells me its no way the 76ers get past a healthy Boston, New Jersey, Milwaukee or Cavs with Doc at the helm this season. If any of these teams have significant injuries then maybe the impossible can happen and then ultimately they'll lose in the finals after being up 2-0 or 3-0.

They definitely have the potential to **** it up because of Doc.

[eyeatoma]

Should prob add spending somewhere down the list. Hard to win without going deeper into the tax unless you have multiple guys on really great deals.

Can’t let money keep you from the move that pushes you over the top.

Done, but it just reset the poll lmao, whoops.

[Pumpkin17]

The problem for the sixers Is that they look and feel in some sense "entitled" even if they never get past second round.

Everyone Is always looking at them as this contending team with great superstars while they have actually proved nothing. This in turns means they act and play like multiple Chips/MVPs winners, while they should just shut up, put their heads down and hustle like they have to prove something. Cause they have to.

This attitude won't lead them to a championship and it involves their coach and main players. Mind you, they have a great team and could potentially actually contend, but at some point you need to stop looking for excuses for everything and just demonstrate you belong in those discussions.

Sorry but can you give me proofs for these? Maybe ive missed something

Embiid:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2017/11/24/76-ers-joel-embiid-i-think-im-best-defensive-player-league-right-now/892698001/&ved=2ahUKEwiKoI_8pOr8AhWdRPEDHV1IDsoQFnoECAwQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3pREXGAGuHCKcx435Z6uja

https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D0S2bmdh5d7A&ved=2ahUKEwiKoI_8pOr8AhWdRPEDHV1IDsoQwqsBegQICBAF&usg=AOvVaw3f3eFqHNr3N_PQWmeNAz2a

https://youtu.be/d6D1bWxkLw4

Doc not worrying about LaVine/McCollum scoring 11 3s on them, while Melton shows a fare better attitude

https://sixerswire.usatoday.com/2023/01/07/sixers-not-concerned-about-giving-up-so-many-3-pointers-lately/

Their transition defense
https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/transition?TypeGrouping=defensive&dir=D&sort=PPP

These are just examples of an attitude which won't lead you to a championship. It has bene like that for years (Ben Simmons........)

Again, they have a great team but they should act and play like they have something to prove.

[eyeatoma]

The problem for the sixers Is that they look and feel in some sense "entitled" even if they never get past second round.

Everyone Is always looking at them as this contending team with great superstars while they have actually proved nothing. This in turns means they act and play like multiple Chips/MVPs winners, while they should just shut up, put their heads down and hustle like they have to prove something. Cause they have to.

This attitude won't lead them to a championship and it involves their coach and main players. Mind you, they have a great team and could potentially actually contend, but at some point you need to stop looking for excuses for everything and just demonstrate you belong in those discussions.

Sorry but can you give me proofs for these? Maybe ive missed something

Embiid:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2017/11/24/76-ers-joel-embiid-i-think-im-best-defensive-player-league-right-now/892698001/&ved=2ahUKEwiKoI_8pOr8AhWdRPEDHV1IDsoQFnoECAwQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3pREXGAGuHCKcx435Z6uja

https://m.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D0S2bmdh5d7A&ved=2ahUKEwiKoI_8pOr8AhWdRPEDHV1IDsoQwqsBegQICBAF&usg=AOvVaw3f3eFqHNr3N_PQWmeNAz2a

https://youtu.be/d6D1bWxkLw4

Doc not worrying about LaVine/McCollum scoring 11 3s on them, while Melton shows a fare better attitude

https://sixerswire.usatoday.com/2023/01/07/sixers-not-concerned-about-giving-up-so-many-3-pointers-lately/

Their transition defense
https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/transition?TypeGrouping=defensive&dir=D&sort=PPP

These are just examples of an attitude which won't lead you to a championship. It has bene like that for years (Ben Simmons........)

Again, they have a great team but they should act and play like they have something to prove.

I do agree with this. They have a tendency to play down to opponents, and also assume that they're next in line, when no one will be handing them anything. They'll need to earn it.