Via Clutch Points
Key Players: Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, Markelle Fultz, Dario Šarić, Robert Covington
With two budding superstars, in Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, under the age of 25, the Philadelphia 76ers are suddenly everyone's team. One can only imagine the frustration a Sixers fan who prayed for double-digit wins just three years ago feels when someone lightheartedly lets out a "trust the process."
The Dark Knight Rises villain Bane summarized it best, monologuing "You merely adopted the dark; I was born in it, molded by it. I didn't see the light until I was already a man, by then it was nothing to me but blinding." Real OG Sixers fans used "trust the process" as a coping mechanism for the trauma they witnessed day in and day out. Modern-day bandwagon Sixers fans rattle off the quote when it's a couple degrees too hot outside.
It's not fair that fans from the 10-win season have to share their team's blinding future with badwagoners. To separate the real from the fake, SoundSports took the liberty of creating the following five question bandwagon detector quiz.
SS Sixers' Bandwagon Quiz
1.) What move led to the beginning of 'the process'?
A. Trading away Evan Turner
B. Trading for Andrew Bynum
C. Trading away Jrue Holiday
D. Drafting Jahlil Okafor
2.) In 2013, Michael Carter-Williams made his historic NBA debut against which team?
A. Boston Celtics
B. Cleveland Cavaliers
C. Milwaukee Bucks
D. Miami Heat
3.) Which of these executives is known for starting 'the process'?
A. Doug Collins
B. Sam Hinkie
C. Brett Brown
D. Bryan Colangelo
4.) During the 2014 NBA draft, who did the Sixers trade for the rights of Dario Saric?
A. Noah Vonleh
B. Dante Exum
C. Elfrid Payton
D. James Young
5.) Who was selected after Jahlil Okafor in the 2015 NBA draft?
A. D'Angelo Russell
B. Emmanuel Mudiay
C. Karl Anthony-Towns
D. Kristaps Porzingis
If you answered "B,D,B,C,D", congratulations, you can enjoy the upcoming Sixers dynasty knowing you're a true fan. If not, you're not a real fan and 'trust the process' should be terminated from your vocabulary; but, it's not too late to hop on the Phoenix or Dallas bandwagon before they become packed.
Being teased by Lebron James only to strikeout would damage most team's psyche, but Philadelphia will be able to cope just fine knowing they have Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons carrying the franchise. To ease the weight the franchise faces carry, the Sixers acquired the versatile wing Wilson Chandler from the Denver Nuggets in exchange for cash considerations and traded the draft rights to Mikal Bridges for Zhaire Smith.
Sticking to the standard set by his rookie predecessors, the 16th overall pick required surgery on a broken foot before playing a single game. To add insult to injury, the rookie required a second offseason surgery due to "an allergic reaction to a food product".
The last notable Sixers offseason move took place with one of the men calling the shots. Philadelphia hired former All-Star Elton Brand to serve as its general manager. Former Sixer GM, Bryan Colangelo, burned out after just two years. Thank you, I'll be here for two more weeks.
Philly's Best Case Scenario
Via Yahoo!Sports
This is the 15th team of the '31in30' series. One would assume that of the 14 teams before the 76ers, at least one would get a mention of winning it all in their best-case scenario. One would be wrong. Only a handful of teams could hypothetically matchup against the Warriors and genuinely generate visions of a competitive series. The Philadelphia 76ers hold a spot on that handful of teams--the pinky finger, but nevertheless on the hand.
Standing at 6'10 and coming off a 16/8/8 Rookie of the Year season, Ben Simmons is arguably the best point guard in the Eastern Conference. In fact, in their most recent point guard rankings, Bleacher Report anointed Simmons as just that and the fifth best point man in the entire league.
It took just one relatively healthy season from Joel Embiid for him to be accepted as one of the 10 best players on the planet. From being touted as the best center in the NBA to drawing comparisons to one of the best big men ever, Hakeem Olajuwon, the hype surrounding the All-NBA center is justified. His brilliant footwork matched with God-given size has the 7 footer primed to take over the league for years to come.
However as the Hall of Fame duos of the 17-18 Rockets and 16-17 Cavs proved, it takes more than two to beat the Golden State Warriors.
Last year's number one pick, Markelle Fultz, has the ability to turn Philly from a powerhouse duo into one of basketball's best trios. Saying Fultz had a confusing inaugural season would be an understatement. From rumors of trainer sabotage to the 20-year-old's jumpshot being treated like album leaks, the former Washington point guard had a less than ideal rookie year. However, all that seems to be past Fultz as he recently stated, "I'm confident. I feel great coming in, and I'm just looking forward to building each and every day."
If Fultz can become the third star that many viewed him as a year ago, the Sixers will have a puncher's choice at hoisting the Larry O'Brien trophy in June.
Philly's Worst Case Scenario
Via Liberty Ballers
Ben Simmons had one point in a playoffs game. Ben Simmons was then destroyed on social media. Memes of Simmons morphing into Michael Carter-Williams and commentary of the Rookie of the Year being a 6'10 Rajon Rondo were everywhere.
Via NBA.com
The memes have since died, but the strategy employed by Celtics head coach Brad Stevens could haunt the Sixers throughout the season. Due to his inability to shoot past 15 feet, most Sixers opponents sag off Simmons, daring him to test his shot or pass the ball; but, passing the ball is exactly what the floor general wants to do. Brad Stevens seemed to be the one coach to notice this and decided to put on-the-ball pressure on Simmons rather than sagging off. In result, the rookie's playoff assist averages dropped by nearly three dimes a game. Until the Philadelphia star attempts to score from outside the paint, the Brad Stevens strategy will continue to negate some of Simmons ability.
With a shot only mildly better than his backcourt mate, Markelle Fultz will face much of the same treatment; however, unlike Ben Simmons, it's been proven that Fultz can shoot. It's just a matter of the 20-year-old having the confidence and health to elevate his shooting back to and eventually past his college markings.
Health is the largest potential roadblock in the Sixers' dynasty. The health of one specific individual being the most important. For fear of speaking an injury into the universe, that individual will remain unnamed and this scenario will end here, but Philly and basketball fans alike know which player's impairment would cast a dark cloud over the Sixers' season and the basketball community as a whole.
Record Prediction: 58-24, The Sixers are apart of an all-time Eastern Conference Finals matchup.