Look Out East, Here Come The Sixers
Tuesday night saw another West Coast victory for the Philadelphia 76ers, who have started out their long road trip 3-0 with wins against the Clippers, Lakers, and Jazz. It’s been a great stretch for the Sixers, who have won 8 of their last 10 contests, and have now taken over the 3rd place spot in the Eastern Conference. Joel Embiid is playing at an MVP level once again, James Harden isn’t far behind, and while the schedule doesn’t really get easier down the stretch for the Sixers, it seems that they’re starting to hit their stride. Considering how their season started, that should be a concern for their Eastern Conference opposition.
Not only are the Sixers in a good spot record-wise, but their top duo of Embiid and Harden are playing better together than ever. In fact, some have started to argue that the Embiid-Harden pairing is the best of the Cameroonian center’s career. Harden has played with some spectacular teammates before, but it’s also possible that Embiid is the best fit superstar that has ever shared the court with the beard. Following the team’s win over the Clippers late on Tuesday night (or Wednesday morning, depending on your time zone), Embiid was interviewed on TNT and lauded Harden’s ability to make life easy for the big man, and that his game has been incredible since he came to Philadelphia. There’s clearly a mutual respect between the two teammates, and the chemistry is growing with every passing game. It’s hard to imagine they have a ceiling above how they’re currently playing, but that could be reality.
It’s not just the duo of Embiid and Harden, though. The supporting cast has been progressing for the Sixers, as Shake Milton, DeAnthony Melton, Montrezl Harrell, and others off the bench have become more comfortable with each other’s play styles. Tyrese Maxey fits with just about every lineup you could put out there, as does Tobias Harris. PJ Tucker is trying. Hopefully all of the people who get mad at me when I critique his game are right when they say that he is a playoff difference maker on the defensive side of the court. The point, though, is that the bench is perhaps as talented as it ever has been post-process. Who do we have to thank for that? Well, Father Time could certainly be first. There’s no substitute for experience, and now that everyone has been healthy for the Sixers for a couple weeks, you can see how that factors in. Let’s not leave Doc Rivers without credit, though. He has been pretty darn good this regular season, and this is coming from someone who is not a big Doc Rivers fan whatsoever. His work helping this team gel, though, has started to pay dividends.
I know that the true indicator of success for this team will be during the playoffs, and even seeding doesn’t carry the weight it used to for this basketball organization, but the trends are pointed in the right direction. This team is starting to figure out what they have, and they have something special. Is it 2nd round special? Or is this the team that finally breaks through? Well, all that we can say to this point is that they have a shot. Maybe a shot is all this group needs.
