Philadelphia 76ers fans have been expecting a deep playoff run ever since that fateful Kawhi Leonard buzzer-beater in 2019.
The ball didn’t bounce their way in that series, but the future was bright.
Joel Embiid was a dominant interior force.
Ben Simmons was one of the most versatile defenders in the league.
And Jimmy Butler gave them the star wing to tie it all together.
Butler would not return the following season but would be involved in a sign-and-trade to bring back Josh Richardson.
Al Horford was the splashy offseason signing that was supposed to form the league’s most feared starting five.
The 76ers would go on to get swept in the first round of the playoffs.
The following season was the collapse against the Atlanta Hawks and this past season was a weak bow out to the Miami Heat.
But 76ers President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey has assembled a strong roster for the upcoming season.
One that has fans believing the 76ers are legitimate title contenders – for good reason.
A Look At The Competition
Morey has assembled a strong roster that should be able to compete in a strong and deep Eastern Conference.
The reigning Eastern Conference Champion Boston Celtics are adding versatile guard Malcolm Brogdon to what was already a deep rotation.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks had a quiet offseason but will get Khris Middleton back healthy again.
And the Miami Heat can never be counted out thanks to their culture and big three of Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Kyle Lowry.
Those three teams make up the truly elite teams in the Eastern Conference.
Taking a step down from those three are teams like the Brooklyn Nets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors, Atlanta Hawks, and Chicago Bulls.
Brooklyn is the most likely team to elevate themselves into the Eastern Conference elite, but they have questions that need to be answered.
The Cavaliers and Hawks both took massive swings in trading for Donovan Mitchell and Dejounte Murray, respectively, this offseason.
And improved health from the Raptors and Bulls should make them solid playoff contenders once again.
No longer is the Eastern Conference a top-heavy conference.
With the inevitability of LeBron James gone, General Managers are willing to roll the dice in beefing up their rosters.
If the 76ers are to make it to the NBA Finals, it will be well-earned.
76ers Roster Is Deep and Talented
Philadelphia has always had star talent in recent years.
Embiid announced himself as a star almost five years ago and Simmons, for all his shortcomings, was a multi-time All-Star.
And now after the Simmons trade this past season, Embiid is flanked by James Harden.
While Harden is no longer the gravity-bending force he was in his prime, he is still a borderline elite player at the guard position.
Those two are joined in the starting lineup by incumbents Tobias Harris and Tyrese Maxey as well as new signing PJ Tucker.
Lineups featuring Embiid, Harden, Harris, and Maxey for the 76ers last season graded in the 99th percentile per Cleaning the Glass with a +17.9 differential.
Adding a hard-nosed two-way player like Tucker could only make that group more lethal.
The main rotation players off the bench will be De’Anthony Melton, Danuel House Jr, Montrezl Harrell, Georges Niang, Matisse Thybulle, and Shake Milton.
Niang, Thybulle, and Milton were the first three off the bench last season.
While they are decent players, Niang and Thybulle are one-dimensional and Milton has not been consistent enough.
Moving them down three spots in the rotation will put them in roles better suited to their talents.
The 76ers finally have a truly deep roster filled with star talent and two-way rotational players.
Fans waiting for a Finals appearance may not have to wait much longer.
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