Contenders and Pretenders: Making sense of the NBA’s crowded field

Philadelphia 76ers

Despite losing Jimmy Butler in free agency, the Philadelphia 76ers may have the NBA’s best starting five, trotting out Ben Simmons, Josh Richardson, Tobias Harris, Al Horford, and Joel Embiid. Even without Butler and JJ Redick, one could argue that this year’s iteration is an improvement over last year’s team.

Horford is one of the most underrated signings of free agency. If he can play a role similar to that which he played in Boston, Philadelphia could improve on both ends of the floor, as he has a reputation as the ultimate “glue guy.”

Retaining Tobias Harris was necessary after the Sixers paid a hefty price for his services at the trade deadline. However, by giving both Harris and Ben Simmons max contracts this summer, Philadelphia has fully committed to this core, making it evident that the front office believes this to be a title-contending team for the near future.

Such a mentality makes complete sense. This team came within a miracle shot of advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals this past season and certainly had the talent to match Golden State in the NBA Finals.

However, this is not to say that the 76ers are without flaws. Perimeter shooting is a legitimate weakness with Redick gone, and Philadelphia will likely go through cold spells at the three-point line. With Simmons unwilling to shoot and Embiid and Horford occupying the backcourt, opponents may be emboldened to crowd the paint, forcing Philadelphia to rely on the outside shot.

This is a weakness that Philadelphia will need to address in order to advance to the NBA Finals. However, with such a talented roster anchored by Embiid, quite possibly the NBA’s best center, Philadelphia looks to be Milwaukee’s main challenger in the Eastern Conference.

Verdict: Contender