With just 24 games between now and the playoffs, it will be a challenge for the Sixers‘ new superstar duo of James Harden and Joel Embiid to mesh quickly enough to make the team a legitimate championship threat this spring.
However, head coach Doc Rivers‘ plan isn’t to work out the kinks this year and focus on winning a title in 2023. As Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer writes, Rivers fully believes the team is capable of a championship run this spring and wants to make the most of the opportunity.
“I always think right now,” Rivers said on Thursday. “I’ve been in this league too long. And I always go back to [the Celtics’ 2007/08 NBA championship team.] Kevin [Garnett] and I talk about it all the time. I remember the first year during training camp we had a meeting and they were saying, ‘Man, we have to get it together. This might not be the year. But by next year, we might…’ I said, ‘Next year? Are you guys kidding me? Next year one of you can get hurt.’
“I know it’s short. I know it’s going to be hard to get it together. But having said that, the time is always now.”
Here’s more on the 76ers:
- Appearing on the Rights to Ricky Sanchez podcast, Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey said he believes Ben Simmons was dealing with mental health struggles in Philadelphia, as Dan Feldman of NBC Sports relays. “I believe him. He was going through something,” Morey said. “And it was just whether or not we could’ve gotten to the point where we would have him play basketball for us,”
- During the same interview, Morey said he should have communicated better with Simmons when the Sixers were originally trying to acquire Harden from Houston in 2021, and that he “should have had a better relationship” with the former No. 1 overall pick. “I think knowing how sensitive he was to public comments that that behooved us to be, just organizationally, more careful on that,” Morey said, per Feldman. “I think it’s important you know your top players and their different spots where you have to pay attention.”
- Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey will replace injured Kings guard Davion Mitchell in Friday’s “Clutch Challenge,” a shooting competition that will take place prior to the Rising Stars final, the league announced in a press release. Maxey will team up with Toronto forward Scottie Barnes in the event.
- In case you missed it, we asked on Thursday whether the Sixers or Nets are better positioned for a deep playoff run.
76ers should target the Championship this year? They are unlikely to anything next year.
Why?
Next year 3 teams will be scary good.
Clippers
Nets
Warriors (young players improve or upgrade)
Warriors have 3 future first round picks to trade this summer
Warriors can trade Wiggins, Poole and Moody plus 3 Firsts for 3 young players
Tons of assets
Sillivan, everyone is available for improving the roster but how you going to improve on the way Wiggins has been playing or the way Jordan Poole has been playing?
Those guys are providing quite a bit to the team right now and each is very valuable in their own way. I think the young guys are almost untouchable now as well.
Jonathan Kuminga of course and even Moses Moody I think is a diamond in the rough. Great attitude, good length, can shoot a little, can defend a little, he could be a Khris Middleton type if everything falls the way it should.
That’s silly. Of course they should try. Yeah GS might crush them in the finals. But, so what? Making the finals would be a huge deal for them.
Plus one injury or just a couple of bad calls can through a 7 game series to the weaker team.
But mostly you have to try or you fans will quit on you
How many years running have we been expecting the Clippers to be “scary good”?
I don’t think the Warriors should do anything but let the youth mature.
So you agree that Simmons was battling a mental issue yet you continued to fight him. I hope the players association takes you to the cleaners.. what a dooch Morey is!!
Friend morey fought for the best trade for his Sixers and the best player on the planet jojo. In other words the mad genius did his job. Dooch!
Watching the bucks throw 3 on D at jojo made the beard salivate. James or JoJo ? My oh my.
Sixers just need to replace Drummond a back up centre that can have an impact.
I’d love to get either Enes or Boogie but I’d happily take someone else just need to get the position filled. Can’t have Millsap and Bassey trying to cover those minutes in the playoffs and getting torched and can’t expect to have Embiid over used and getting injured.
Bucks have depth at centre with Lopez Portis and Ibaka, Bulls look to be getting Thompson to go behind Vuce with Bradley also there.
Cmon boys get something done please
“Nash expects Drummond to play a larger role with Brooklyn than he did with Philadelphia”
Wow, that’s some expert analysis right there. I wonder what tipped him off, the fact that Drummond was backing up one of the best big men in the league?
Best thing Harden can do is be that ast guy. That helps team more than anything. His offense will come easily off that. They need a 15 ast Harden not a 30 pts Harden. Even if he puts up what he did in Bklyn
22.5pts, 8.0 reb, 10.2 ast …… nobody is doing that on Sixers.
If he can put up 10 ast in Bklyn. He should have no problem putting up 12 ast in Philly.
22 and 12 should be easy for him. I’m not even a Harden fan. It’s on D and in the playoffs. Where we will see the Real Harden. If he lets Embiid lead the way. Then they could have real success.