The Philadelphia Sixers are looking more and more like the team to beat in the East!
At the beginning of the season, it was projected for Boston to be the favorites to win the East and see the Warriors in the 2018-2019 NBA Finals. That is looking like exactly what it was, just a projection. Boston is struggling to find an identity and the Sixers are looking like the best starting five in the East. The only question for the Sixers now is whether or not they can put it all together after the all-star break to have the chemistry needed for a long playoff run. But if you look at it in that context they are not the only team having to figure that out. Outside of the Milwaukee Bucks all the top teams in the East have to figure out chemistry.
The Raptors have to incorporate Gasol, the Sixers have to make their new additions of Jimmy and Tobias work, and Boston has to find a way to get their young talent to respect the pecking order in regards to the incorporation of Kyrie and Gordon. But if the Sixers were to figure it out they have the best lineup to challenge the Warriors. They are long minus Reddick, but all of their players can defend. Ben Simmons length helps with challenging both Durant and Giannis. They have arguably the best big man in the East in Embiid. Tobias is a efficient scorer. Reddick is a great shooter, and Jimmy is poised to be in position to showcase his closing abilities in the playoffs. Along with that GM Elton Brand has bolstered the bench of the Sixers with adding Ennis, Boban and Johnathan Simmons to the roster.
This team is dangerous....potentially! And that is truly the key here. Prior to Tobias it was obvious that the Sixers got better with Jimmy, but it still felt as though they were still not good enough to come out the East. With Tobias you're adding more scoring, to help shield Ben Simmons lack of it, another threat from 3 to open space on driving for Jimmy and Ben and another versatile defending wing. They look serious now. However, it all depends on if they can figure each other out fast enough to make it all work. Aside from this GM Elton Brand is showing his young all-stars in Ben and Embiid that he believes in them, that the rebuilding process is done and it's about championships now!
So the pressure is on for the Sixers to show what they are made of and losing like they did in last years playoffs will not be acceptable! Should be interesting in Philly!
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