Joel Embiid has been telling us to trust “The Process” for a few years now, and this is the season that that work should finally pay off for the Philadelphia 76ers. Most books have their win total set at 50.5 for the 2022-23 season, and that seems absurdly low for what has become one of the deepest teams in the Eastern Conference.
Last season, the Sixers finished with 51 wins, good for fourth spot in the East. Embiid is coming off a campaign in which many thought he would be named MVP, a title that eventually went to Nikola Jokic. They also made the blockbuster trade for James Harden, ridding themselves of the dramatic Ben Simmons saga. Their run finally came to a close in the second round of the playoffs against Miami, but we saw the emergence of Tyrese Maxey as a legitimate threat, and a successful offseason that added depth in all the right places.
Their biggest obstacle will once again be the health of Embiid. With him in the lineup last year, Philadelphia was 45-23, and when he and Harden were on the floor together, they outscored their opponents by 15.5 points per 100 possessions. Through free agency and trades, the 2022-23 version of the 76ers are much more complete. According to the NBA App GM Survey, general managers around the league voted the Sixers as having the second-best offseason behind only the Cleveland Cavaliers.
PJ Tucker has arrived via free agency and will provide the physical toughness and defense they so desperately need, as well as reliable shooting. De’Anthony Melton makes his way to Philly from Memphis via trade for Danny Green, adding youth and athleticism. Danuel House Jr. is a big wing defender that will further help the second unit. Lastly, Montrezl Harrell, who I’ve always been a huge fan of, addresses the backup center position, which will be invaluable when Embiid inevitably misses games here and there. The Eastern Conference, and the Atlantic Division in particular, look to be extremely difficult this year, but this is poised to be the breakthrough season under Doc Rivers.
With their offseason acquisitions, they now match up incredibly well against the likes of Milwaukee and the titans of the West in Golden State, LA Clippers, and Denver. Harden and Maxey will have a field day in the pick-and-roll with Embiid, and they now have an embarrassment of riches in the 3-and-D department. I suspect this can be a top three team in the East, and certainly eclipse the 50-win total.
Bet: Philadelphia 76ers Over 50.5 Wins (-118) at Betway. 1.18 units