The Process is over, right? Wrong.
Philadelphia basketball fans have been through so much these past four seasons, with only one thing getting them through:
The Process.
Trusting the process means, dealing with bad basketball. It means tanking. It means having to watch or ignore a team that is purposely putting a losing night after night for the light at the end of the tunnel.
During this dismal span, the Sixers have not made playoffs, had a winning record, or even scrapped together 30 wins out of an 82-game season.
After all the suffering, Philadelphia fans are finally rejoicing, and for good reason. The entire Sixers fan base is eager to see if all the pain they endured was worth it.
At this very moment in time, there is reason to believe it was, and here’s why:
They have added, Joel Embiid (3rd overall in the 2014 NBA Draft), Ben Simmons (1st overall in the 2016 NBA Draft), and most recently, Markelle Fultz (1st overall in the 2017 Draft).
Two back-to-back first overall picks, and what would have been three, if Embiid had been healthy, means that the Sixers are going to be one of the most interesting teams that the NBA will have to offer in the 2017-2018 season.
Fans are eager and anxious to see these players in live NBA action, with both Simmons and Fultz planning to make their regular season debuts this coming season.
Embiid, while no longer a rookie, is largely unproven in regular season action as well, only playing 31 games his rookie year due to a minutes/games restriction and a meniscus injury that eventually ended his campaign.
With all of this excitement and anticipation boiling over in Philadelphia, fans are finally excited about something other than a lottery pick, and it’s their postseason chances.
Lauded Philadelphia radio host Mike Missanelli has been preaching that it is playoffs or bust for the Sixers this season, but that is simply not the case.
With the unproven talent and a need for a change in Philadelphia’s losing culture, it will be a challenge for the Sixers to make the postseason this year.
Hypothetically speaking, even if the Sixers squeak into the playoffs in the lackluster Eastern Conference, they would most likely face the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Boston Celtics in the first round, two teams they are not equipped to beat four times in seven games.
The Sixers’ lack of overall experience (playoffs included) and depth would bring their season to an end in round one (best case scenario) barring anything astronomical.
This year is all about trending upwards for Embiid, Simmons, Fultz and the rest of Philadelphia’s roster. Young teams do not win in the NBA and the Sixers will most likely be no exception to that rule.
Embiid staying mostly healthy would make this season worth it for the Sixers and the fans, as he has still yet to be cleared for five-on-five basketball. His health has improved over time, and he showed dominant flashes last season, but he is by no means out of the woods yet.
Fultz focusing on becoming a complete player in the NBA and finding his niche on this potentially loaded Sixers team would be enough for Philly and their fans.
Simmons coming out and looking hungry to improve and showing that he’s worth all of the hype would be enough.
Let’s be honest, all three of the young core playing opening night in Philly would be enough. Philadelphia is primed to see good basketball for the next decade, and this year’s postseason clinching has nothing to do with it.
The worst part of the process is over, but another part has begun. It will be exciting to witness this year’s Sixers team, even if they do not make the playoffs.