Out of the eastern conference come the Philadelphia 76ers led by 2 all-stars, Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid.
The 76ers have a rather young squad but a squad who has learned and excelled rapidly in the past few years. They have one of the youngest starting line-ups in the NBA today when compared to other teams. Philadelphia’s rebuilding phase went on for quite some time and even became a joke in the league later on. But Philly fans and front office strongly believed in “Trust the Process” and were rewarded with a blooming bigman and a modern-era Magic Johnson.
A Talented core of the Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers landed a gem in Ben Simmons, a 2-way slashing playmaker who is listed at 6’10 and plays point guard. The height advantage that Simmons has over other point guards in the league is an absolute cheat code. Simmons has no problem making plays for his teammates but the most overpowering aspects of his game are his strength, athleticism and his wide wingspan.
Ben Simmons is not a good shooter but what he lacks in shooting, he more than makes up for it with his defense and excellent playmaking. Simmons is a defensive demon, he intercepts passing lanes, can strip the ball from defenders due to his wide reach and can completely clamp up his matchup. An intimidator inside with lightning reflexes, Simmons also has the ability to be a chasedown artist whenever the opposite team is on fastbreak. Apart from his defense, his playmaking is another thing that catches the viewer’s eye. Simmons, a 6’10 point guard can easily see above defenders which helps him throw full court outlet passes without any hesitation.
And obviously his finishing at the rim, which almost seems unstoppable at times. His height advantage and agility gives him the ability to dunk on defenders even after hard contact.
He’s relentless on offense which helps him be a consistent finisher even after absorbing contact.
As this new trend of having two main players or a Dynamic Duo has taken over the NBA, let’s have a look at the other half of this duo.
It is none other than their star center, Joel Embiid. Listed at 7 feet, Embiid is the result of trusting the process. Though he was drafted in 2014, he did not play his first couple of seasons in the NBA due to injuries. But 76ers fans and front office trusted in the process and were then rewarded with their all-star center, Embiid.
Even though he plays in the post to battle for rebounds and second chances, Embiid can shoot. Though he was a traditional center when he came into the league, Embiid has expanded his game over the years and can now space the floor for his teammates. And when it comes to inside scoring, Embiid is a beast in the paint. A defensive leader and rim protector for the 76ers, he has the ability to lockdown defenders in the post. And apart from his defensive abilities, Embiid’s offense is just as good as his defense.
Excellent in pick and roll situations, he can either roll towards the rim and finish with an alley-oop but can also fade to the 3-point line and knock down threes.
The last time the 76ers made the playoffs was when Allen Iverson was with the team. AI has given not just Philly fans but the whole world some mesmerizing games and the infamous step over Tyronn Lue. Iverson was then paired with an aging Mount Mutombo (Dikembe) but were still able to make a big splash in the playoffs. The 76ers have 3 championships to their name and a lot of big name players who’ve played for the club as well. Both Wilt Chamberlain and Julius Erving have gotten the team championships, let’s see if this New Philadelphia Squad can do the same.
Current Superstars – Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons.
Past Superstars – Allen Iverson, Dikembe Mutombo.
Past Legends – Wilt Chamberlain, Moses Malone, Billy Cunningham, Julius Erving.
