Are The Philadelphia 76ers Due For An NBA Championship?
The stark reality is that during the Joel Embiid era, the Philadelphia 76ers have repeatedly faltered in the postseason, despite their regular-season successes. They’ve made seven consecutive playoff appearances, winning 42 or more games each season. Yet, like the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL, they have often squandered their regular-season success with early playoff exits. However, the 76ers have bolstered their roster by adding former All-Star Paul George and reaching an extension with Tyrese Maxey. One of the most buzzworthy offseason headlines was George and his representatives' decision to forgo the $48.8 million left on his contract to test the waters of free agency. In a swift turn of events, George has secured a new home in the ‘City of Brotherly Love’ just weeks after the contract opt-out. Tobias Harris’s foray back to Detroit left a void in the starting lineup that George is capable of supplementing. George's tenure in Los Angeles came to a screeching halt after five years of disappointing playoff exits—something the Sixers know all too well. The lingering question that may come to define PG-13’s legacy is his availability. He hasn't been active for more than 60 starts since the 2018-2019 season when he was a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder. With these moves, the 76ers are ill-equipped to make a significant impact in the Eastern Conference. Emerged superstar Maxey has offered improvement each season, culminating in a top-10 finish for Most Improved Player in 2022 and an All-Star appearance last season. With Mad Maxey, Playoff P, The Process, and Buddy Hield, the 76ers boast one of the most formidable cores in the NBA. The question remains: how do they measure up against Eastern Conference contenders?
Over the past decade, the Eastern Conference has been viewed as a wide-open battleground, often perceived as the lesser of the two basketball conferences. This perception may have wavered in the wake of the Boston Celtics' dominant postseason rampage on their way to securing an NBA-record 18th championship. The Celtics are the team to beat, and it’s uncertain if the revamped 76ers can dethrone them just yet. Among the top-tier contenders are the Indiana Pacers, led by the dynamic Tyrese Haliburton, and the New York Knicks, who have been very active this offseason after their second-round playoff exit. The Pacers were unfortunately another victim in the path of Boston’s hellbent title run but have since bolstered their lineup with much-needed depth. Indiana added functional role players Obi Toppin and Bruce Brown to a loaded roster that hosts aforementioned star Haliburton, defensive aficionado Myles Turner, and recently extended polarizing mid-season addition Pascal Siakam. The Pacers remain the second-best opponent in the Eastern Conference with a clear advantage over the Sixers.
The New York Knicks have been one of the most active buyers this offseason with their most noteworthy addition a blockbuster deal in exchange for Mikal Bridges. After a dazzling postseason display, they bid farewell to Isaiah Hartenstein in free agency but managed to retain defensive stalwart OG Anunoby. Despite falling short of expectations following last offseason's blockbuster move for Damian Lillard, the 2021 NBA Champions Milwaukee Bucks still boast a formidable lineup. Their offseason has quietly unfolded, with the notable addition of role player Delon Wright on a one-year deal standing out. However, with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Bobby Portis anchoring the team, they remain an upper-echelon contending roster. Through this fun little exercise of rehashing pivotal moves made by contenders, and recognizing who those contenders are, I have Philly as the third most capable roster of making it out of the East. They’re a dark horse NBA Finals attendant who I believe can finally break through in the postseason after years of disappointment. They’ll need both their injury-plagued stars to remain available throughout the season but don’t be surprised if this team represents the East in mid-June.
