Sixers are headed to the playoffs for the first time in six seasons

Sixers are headed to the playoffs for the first time in six seasons

For the first time since the lockout season in 2011-12, the Sixers have clinched a playoff birth.

For the first time since the lockout season in 2011-12, the Sixers have clinched a playoff birth.

Andre Iguodala, Jrue Holiday, Elton Brand, Evan Turner, and Spencer Hawes... if you're wondering why I rattled those names off, it's because that was the starting five of the last Sixer team that made the playoffs. That team walked off the floor in Boston after losing to the Celtics in game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semi-finals during the 2011-12 lockout season, a season in which the team went 35-31.

The game was an 85-75 rock fight, that featured some unlikely, but timely, Rajon Rondo jump shots in critical parts of the game. Just like that, the game was out of reach for a team that basically had the ceiling of a first-round exit. That Sixers' team benefited from injuries suffered in the previous round by the Chicago Bulls, who lost their reigning MVP, Derrick Rose, to his first ACL injury in game 1, and then Joakim Noah in game 3 with a sprained ankle that was so nasty that the image of his foot going sideways, while driving for a layup, is still ingrained in my head.

The very next season, the Sixers finished with 34 wins, missed the playoffs after trading for Andrew Bynum who never played a game for the team. At the conclusion of that season, Sam Hinkie took over as general manager and hired Brett Brown as the head coach late in August. The rest of this story, which I'll blabber on about in another article, has all led up to the current 2017-18 Sixers clinching a playoff spot for the first time since that lockout season. 

There are a few stark differences between that Sixers team and the current iteration. Unlike the limited ceiling the 2011-12 team had, this team is quite different. Quite frankly, when Iverson was traded in the 06-07 season, the team wondered on the dreaded treadmill of mediocrity, and it was long overdue for a major overhaul, something Hinkie did unapologetically. The result, is a playoff team with two of the best under-24 players in the entire NBA, on its roster. Two players that could possibly be one of the ten best players in the league down the road (Embiid to me is in the top 15). Those distinguished qualities and a formed identity have appealed to major media members --like Zach Lowe-- who say that no team in the Eastern Conference wants to face the Sixers.

The Sixers made it a goal to reach the playoffs well before the season started. It was well documented. The one who was most vocal about this goal was All-star Center Joel Embiid. It wasn't going to be easy. Truth be told, when my best friend asked me what my win prediction was for the season, I told him that the Sixers would make the playoffs in the East...with 38 wins.

There were many reasons why I picked that number. The roster was almost brand new. Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, the engines of this team, hadn't played a single game together. Incoming free agent signee JJ Redick was going to have to fit in. What was Dario Saric's role going to be? What about starting Fultz and Simmons forming a starting rookie backcourt while being the primary ball handlers? More importantly. Could Joel Embiid play at least 50 games? It depended on how many games the best center in basketball could play. All that crossing my mind made it seem like a 10 win improvement from the 28-54 record in the 2016-17 season while making the playoffs in a weak conference was considered a successful season.

Then all my expectations were exceeded in every single way, except you know.... the Fultz saga (I'm still buying everyone's Fultz stock by the way). 

  • Simmons and Embiid have already shown to be the best young duo in the NBA
  • JJ Redick has done what he was brought in to do, which is shoot and generate spacing.
  • Dario Saric has taken a leap that even the biggest Saric fan didn't expect
  • Joel Embiid has played 61 games and counting. He could play 71 if he doesn't rest down the stretch (please rest him at least once)
  • The team could win FIFTY GAMES if they finish 8-2 the rest of the way
  • The Sixers have the 4th best defense in the NBA. 
  • THE SIXERS COULD HAVE HOME COURT ADVANTAGE IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS!
  • Also, I was wrong about the east. It has improved a lot this season.

Yes. This team is coming in lacking experience. I know anti-Process/anti-Hinkie people are going to move the goalposts once again, just so they can die on a hill that is clearly on the wrong side of history (shoutout to the Rights to Ricky Sanchez podcast).

"What if the team is an early exit?"

"Will the process be worth it then?"

If you have this line of thinking, you are missing the entire point. 

The Sixers won't win a championship this year. Much like that 35-31 lockout team that made the playoffs six seasons ago. The difference this time is that the team has two budding franchise players who will be getting their first taste of postseason basketball. Once the young players on this roster experience that, the ceiling for this team can be raised even more. Down the line, the Sixers could possibly compete for championships, especially when you factor in that the team has a possible lottery pick this year and a max salary cap slot for this summer or in 2019. You couldn't say the same thing about a team where Andre Iguodala, while an elite swiss army knife, was the best player. 

By all accounts, this has been a wildly successful season, and the postseason is going to be a lot of fun.

Andre Iguodala, Jrue Holiday, Elton Brand, Evan Turner, and Spencer Hawes... if you're wondering why I rattled those names off, it's because that was the starting five of the last Sixer team that made the playoffs. That team walked off the floor in Boston after losing to the Celtics in game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semi-finals during the 2011-12 lockout season, a season in which the team went 35-31.

The game was an 85-75 rock fight, that featured some unlikely, but timely, Rajon Rondo jump shots in critical parts of the game. Just like that, the game was out of reach for a team that basically had the ceiling of a first-round exit. That Sixers' team benefited from injuries suffered in the previous round by the Chicago Bulls, who lost their reigning MVP, Derrick Rose, to his first ACL injury in game 1, and then Joakim Noah in game 3 with a sprained ankle that was so nasty that the image of his foot going sideways, while driving for a layup, is still ingrained in my head.

The very next season, the Sixers finished with 34 wins, missed the playoffs after trading for Andrew Bynum who never played a game for the team. At the conclusion of that season, Sam Hinkie took over as general manager and hired Brett Brown as the head coach late in August. The rest of this story, which I'll blabber on about in another article, has all led up to the current 2017-18 Sixers clinching a playoff spot for the first time since that lockout season. 

There are a few stark differences between that Sixers team and the current iteration. Unlike the limited ceiling the 2011-12 team had, this team is quite different. Quite frankly, when Iverson was traded in the 06-07 season, the team wondered on the dreaded treadmill of mediocrity, and it was long overdue for a major overhaul, something Hinkie did unapologetically. The result, is a playoff team with two of the best under-24 players in the entire NBA, on its roster. Two players that could possibly be one of the ten best players in the league down the road (Embiid to me is in the top 15). Those distinguished qualities and a formed identity have appealed to major media members --like Zach Lowe-- who say that no team in the Eastern Conference wants to face the Sixers.

The Sixers made it a goal to reach the playoffs well before the season started. It was well documented. The one who was most vocal about this goal was All-star Center Joel Embiid. It wasn't going to be easy. Truth be told, when my best friend asked me what my win prediction was for the season, I told him that the Sixers would make the playoffs in the East...with 38 wins.

There were many reasons why I picked that number. The roster was almost brand new. Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, the engines of this team, hadn't played a single game together. Incoming free agent signee JJ Redick was going to have to fit in. What was Dario Saric's role going to be? What about starting Fultz and Simmons forming a starting rookie backcourt while being the primary ball handlers? More importantly. Could Joel Embiid play at least 50 games? It depended on how many games the best center in basketball could play. All that crossing my mind made it seem like a 10 win improvement from the 28-54 record in the 2016-17 season while making the playoffs in a weak conference was considered a successful season.

Then all my expectations were exceeded in every single way, except you know.... the Fultz saga (I'm still buying everyone's Fultz stock by the way). 

  • Simmons and Embiid have already shown to be the best young duo in the NBA
  • JJ Redick has done what he was brought in to do, which is shoot and generate spacing.
  • Dario Saric has taken a leap that even the biggest Saric fan didn't expect
  • Joel Embiid has played 61 games and counting. He could play 71 if he doesn't rest down the stretch (please rest him at least once)
  • The team could win FIFTY GAMES if they finish 8-2 the rest of the way
  • The Sixers have the 4th best defense in the NBA. 
  • THE SIXERS COULD HAVE HOME COURT ADVANTAGE IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE PLAYOFFS!
  • Also, I was wrong about the east. It has improved a lot this season.

Yes. This team is coming in lacking experience. I know anti-Process/anti-Hinkie people are going to move the goalposts once again, just so they can die on a hill that is clearly on the wrong side of history (shoutout to the Rights to Ricky Sanchez podcast).

"What if the team is an early exit?"

"Will the process be worth it then?"

If you have this line of thinking, you are missing the entire point. 

The Sixers won't win a championship this year. Much like that 35-31 lockout team that made the playoffs six seasons ago. The difference this time is that the team has two budding franchise players who will be getting their first taste of postseason basketball. Once the young players on this roster experience that, the ceiling for this team can be raised even more. Down the line, the Sixers could possibly compete for championships, especially when you factor in that the team has a possible lottery pick this year and a max salary cap slot for this summer or in 2019. You couldn't say the same thing about a team where Andre Iguodala, while an elite swiss army knife, was the best player. 

By all accounts, this has been a wildly successful season, and the postseason is going to be a lot of fun.

Premium Yahoo, ESPN & Fantrax Tools

Unlock our premium Yahoo, ESPN and Fantrax league tools with an active Patreon subscription for $2/mo and get access to the following tools using data from Yahoo, ESPN and Fantrax leagues:

  • Premium Schedule Grid
  • Waiver Wire Rankings
  • Draft Tracker
  • Matchup Planner
  • Trade Machine
  • Waiver Machine
  • League Scouting Report
  • Team Scouting Report
  • Beast Mode

Learn about our premium tools