NBA: A deep dive into the 5 most interesting teams of 2017-18

Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers are going to be one of the most interesting watches of the season, and they might not even make the playoffs this year. That’s telling. Although, to get a better grip on the pulse of what’s going on in Philadelphia, we talked with Christopher Kline of The Sixers Sense to get better insight.

Joel Embiid is clearly the best player on this team; who’s the second best? 

Kline: Ben Simmons has that title locked up. He’s 6’10, a dynamic playmaker and an elite athlete who’s improving his play on the defensive end. He gives Brett Brown countless lineup options that weren’t available last season, while his playmaking will make the offense run far smoother than it did without him on the floor. He’ll up the pace substantially, and open up more room for guys like Embiid, Fultz and Redick to find good looks at the rim.

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His physique makes him a mismatch almost regardless of who’s defending him, and his basketball I.Q. is high enough to sustain productivity without scoring a bunch in the early stages of his career. Shooting and finishing concerns might dip his efficiency, but he’ll contribute too much across the board to not be considered the second best player on this team.

Philly has become somewhat of the NBA summer darlings; what are the reasonable expectations for this season? 

Kline: Expectations have had a high amount of variability for the Sixers this offseason, which means reasonable expectations likely fall somewhere in the middle. They aren’t a 50-win team, but they won’t be bottom feeders either. Simmons and Redick will help up the team’s execution on offense, while a healthy Joel Embiid (60 games?) is almost a ticket to the playoffs. They have the tools needed to be one of the East’s better defensive teams, and that should come with offensive improvements that allow them to keep up with the not-so-great competition for the conference’s bottom seeds.

All in all, I think a No. 7 or 8 seed makes sense, with Embiid’s health obviously playing a big role in that.

How do you expect Markelle Fultz and Ben Simmons to co-exist on the court together? 

Kline: It might take some time. Fultz is used to playing with the ball in his hands, and the shot concerns he developed over the offseason will only make that adjustment more difficult. He’s an excellent passer, smart off-ball player and someone who’s plenty capable of playing alongside Simmons, it’s just a matter of how confident he is with his shot and a more defined role.

Fultz has also shown he’s more comfortable as the primary point guard this offseason. Even with a wonky jumper, his ability to get into the teeth of the defense with herky-jerky handles and ample creativity makes him a dynamic threat, both as a scorer and a playmaker. He’ll start the year off in the second unit, where he’ll likely be handed the primary ball handling duties. If his finds success in that role, expect Brown to stagger Simmons and Fultz’s minutes to make those combinations the norm – even once Fultz is back in the starting five.

Don’t forget to check out The Sixers Sense for all your Philadelphia 76ers news and analysis.