What a start to the Playoffs it has been for the Sixers. They have looked pretty convincing in their first three playoff games and along with the Heat, I would say have played the best so far in these Playoffs. Even with more than double the turnovers and an out-of-nowhere 20 point performance from Precious Achiuwa the Sixers managed to win game three on an Embiid buzzer beater.
After acquiring Harden the buzz around the team as contenders was high, but this quickly cooled. Following this, we saw that the team hit a snag, especially on offense and a three game losing streak capped off by a loss to Detroit made many pundits claim this team isn’t a serious title contender. This led to people pointing to the weak bench with Harden not looking like his prime self being reasons as to why this team can’t be serious contenders. Along with this, the East is the league’s best conference with legit title contenders in teams like Milwaukee, Boston, and Brooklyn. Here’s some reasons why we should take them seriously as title contenders.
Reason 1 – You don’t need a deep bench in the playoffs to win
This is something I have argued for years. We know that a deep bench is very useful for things like injuries and rest in the regular season. However, look at last year’s NBA Finals, Phoenix and Milwaukee were running 7-8 guys AT MOST for that series. Especially when being matched up with other elite teams in the East, besides Miami, Milwaukee, Brooklyn, and Boston all rank near us in the bottom of the league in bench scoring. Simply put, I don’t think we should be as worried about the Sixers bench issues as Doc can start running 7-8 man rotations likely as soon as next round with the Heat.
Reason 2 – Tobias and Tyrese are elevating their games
Remember that game against Brooklyn when Ben Simmons returned and the Sixers lost by 29? In that game Maxey and Harris combined for 20 points and frankly looked like they sunk into average role players. Harris was fairly competent in that Hawks series aside from a Game 5 pivotal game in which he put up 4 points. With Maxey, he wasn’t expected to do much in the Playoffs last year as we know Doc doesn’t like to rely on young players, but this regular season left him too convinced otherwise. Both have shined through the playoffs as Harris looks locked in and is playing his best he has ever played in Philly. Maxey has also been amazing averaging nearly 27 points on 60% from the field!
Before the playoffs, if you were to ask me why they may lose, I would have said because Maxey and Harris shrunk into average role players. So far in these playoffs, the opposite has rung true as both are playing like All-Stars through these first playoff games.
Reason 3 – Great 2nd Round Draw
Likely getting Miami in the 2nd round is a blessing for Sixers fans, as the Heat don’t quite have the guns to expose some of the Sixers weaknesses. For one, we know that the Sixers don’t have great backup center depth as losing Drummond in the Harden trade hurt that aspect of the Sixers. However, in spite of this issue, with Miami trotting out Dwayne Dedmon as their backup center. I don’t think Dedmon will be too much of a problem for Paul Reed. Furthermore, Philadelphia and Miami are both middling rebounding teams, so that’s another weakness of Philly that Miami won’t be exposing. Aside from Butler, I don’t think this Heat team has a defender they trust on Harden. I think Lowry is too small to bother him, and I think PJ Tucker is more adept at guarding forwards and disrupting their jumpers. I could see Harden playing an even larger role in that Miami series than now given he is gaining more chemistry with the team.
Reason 4 – Embiid seems fully Healthy
In spite of everyone being injured come playoff time, with Joel playing on a partially torn meniscus last year against the Hawks, there were things he couldn’t do as well athletically in spite of a still great series. With him being more healthy with a better team around him than last year, I think it’s time we start taking the Sixers more seriously as title contenders.
