The Sixers Are Mashing Teams, Even With Joel Embiid On The Sidelines

The headline battle in the Eastern Conference on Tuesday featured a matchup between the Toronto Raptors and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Given that the No. 1 seed faced off with LeBron James, it makes sense that plenty of attention was paid to that particular contest but, at the same time, the 76ers throttled the Brooklyn Nets in a seemingly innocuous early April game.

There was nothing particularly noteworthy about the 121-95 final margin or even anything else within the box score. However, the victory represented the 11th consecutive win for Philadelphia and, after a 25-25 start, the Sixers are now the hottest team in the league with a terrifying mix of young talent and high-end production.

While any team putting together an 11-game winning streak is worthy of celebration, the Sixers have accumulated nine straight wins in blowout fashion, including the last (effectively) four contests without the services of star big man Joel Embiid. Philly has won nine in a row by double-digits, which is knocking on the door of history.

It is nothing short of amazing that the Sixers, with relatively modest preseason expectations and all kinds of injury concerns, would round into form in this fashion. The recent binge without Embiid (who is sidelined with an orbital fracture) is jaw-dropping. It is undeniable that Philadelphia is a much different team without its center available, but the return of Markelle Fultz brings an added dimension to the table in a reserve role and the continued excellence of Ben Simmons (in the midst of a Rookie of the Year campaign) have been vital.

Just how dangerous are the Sixers moving forward? That is anyone’s guess, but the team’s talent and, by proxy, upside is tantalizing. Philadelphia is locked in a fight with Cleveland for the No. 3 seed in the conference. No matter who claims that position, the first round series for the Sixers will be fascinating in that the (very) young squad will nominally be the favorite.

That isn’t to say that a seven-game brawl against the Wizards, Pacers or Heat will be easy, especially given Philly’s relative inexperience. Still, the Sixers, provided Embiid is available, are more talented than their counterparts, which could set the stage for a heavyweight battle against a team like Boston or Toronto in round two that would bring all sorts of scenarios into focus.

Regardless of what transpires when mid-April arrives, this run from the Sixers has been tremendous. Winning four straight games by double-figures in the absence of Embiid would have seemed unthinkable just a few months ago, but the continued brilliance of Simmons and a cast of strong role players can’t be overlooked. Brett Brown’s team will be pressured to defy the odds once again as a really young team in the postseason but, given what they’ve already done in approaching a 50-win campaign this season, that is a position that appears quite comfortable for the Sixers in 2018.