The Philadelphia 76ers, also known as the Sixers, are one of the most successful teams in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA). They have won three NBA championships, nine conference titles, and five division titles. They have also produced some of the greatest players of all time, such as Wilt Chamberlain, Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Charles Barkley, Allen Iverson, and Joel Embiid.
However, the Sixers have also gone through some periods of struggle and rebuilding, especially in the 2010s, when they adopted a controversial strategy of deliberately losing games to acquire high draft picks. This strategy, dubbed “The Process” by former general manager Sam Hinkie, was criticized by many fans, media, and NBA officials, but also gained a cult following among some loyal supporters.
The Process paid off in 2016, when the Sixers drafted Ben Simmons, a versatile point forward from Australia, with the first overall pick. Simmons, along with Embiid, a dominant center from Cameroon, formed the core of a young and talented team that started to show signs of improvement and potential. In 2018, the Sixers made the playoffs for the first time since 2012, and reached the second round, where they lost to the Boston Celtics in five games.
In 2019, the Sixers made some bold moves to upgrade their roster, trading for Jimmy Butler, a star shooting guard from the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Tobias Harris, a skilled power forward from the Los Angeles Clippers. They also added veterans like JJ Redick, Mike Scott, and Boban Marjanovic to provide shooting, toughness, and depth. The Sixers finished the regular season with a 51-31 record, good for third place in the Eastern Conference.
The Sixers faced the Brooklyn Nets in the first round of the playoffs, and won the series in five games, despite losing the first game at home. In the second round, they met the Toronto Raptors, the second seed in the conference, and the eventual NBA champions. The series was a thrilling and competitive one, with each team winning three games. The decisive seventh game was played in Toronto, and came down to the final seconds. The Sixers had a chance to win or tie the game, but Butler’s layup was blocked by Kawhi Leonard, the Raptors’ superstar. Leonard then got the ball back, and launched a fadeaway jumper from the corner as time expired. The ball bounced four times on the rim, before falling in, giving the Raptors a 92-90 victory, and sending the Sixers home in heartbreak.
The Sixers’ loss to the Raptors was widely regarded as one of the most dramatic and memorable moments in NBA history, and sparked a lot of debate and analysis. Some praised the Sixers for their resilience and effort, and argued that they were only a bounce away from advancing to the conference finals, and possibly winning the championship. Others criticized the Sixers for their inconsistency and lack of chemistry, and questioned their decision-making and coaching.
The Sixers made some changes in the offseason, letting Butler and Redick leave in free agency, and signing Al Horford, a veteran center from the Celtics, and Josh Richardson, a young guard from the Miami Heat. They also drafted Matisse Thybulle, a defensive specialist from Washington, and traded for Glenn Robinson III and Alec Burks, two wing players from the Golden State Warriors. The Sixers hoped that these moves would make them more balanced and versatile, and better suited to compete in the playoffs.
The 2020-21 season was a challenging one for the Sixers, as they had to deal with injuries, COVID-19 protocols, and trade rumors. Embiid missed 21 games due to various ailments, Simmons missed 12 games due to a knee injury, and Harris missed 11 games due to health and safety reasons. The Sixers were also involved in several trade talks, most notably for James Harden, a former MVP and scoring champion from the Houston Rockets. However, the Sixers did not pull the trigger, and Harden was traded to the Nets instead, forming a formidable trio with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
Despite these difficulties, the Sixers managed to finish the regular season with a 49-23 record, the best in the Eastern Conference, and the second-best in the NBA. Embiid had a career year, averaging 28.5 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game, and finishing second in the MVP voting behind Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets. Simmons was named to the All-Defensive First Team for the second consecutive year, and also made the All-Star team for the third time. Harris had a bounce-back season, averaging 19.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, and shooting 51.2% from the field, 39.4% from the three-point line, and 89.2% from the free-throw line.
The Sixers entered the 2021 playoffs as the favorites to win the Eastern Conference, and faced the Washington Wizards in the first round. The Sixers won the series in five games, but lost Simmons to a back injury in the fourth game. Simmons was ruled out for the rest of the playoffs, leaving a huge hole in the Sixers’ lineup. The Sixers then faced the Atlanta Hawks in the second round, a young and explosive team led by Trae Young, a dynamic point guard. The Sixers won the first game, but lost the second game at home, giving up a 18-point lead in the fourth quarter. The Sixers bounced back and won the third game in Atlanta, but lost the fourth game, again blowing a big lead in the final period. The Sixers won the fifth game, thanks to a dominant performance by Embiid, who scored 40 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. However, the Sixers could not close out the series in the sixth game, as they lost by three points in a nail-biter. The seventh and final game was played in Philadelphia, and the Sixers had the home-court advantage. However, the Sixers could not overcome their own mistakes, as they committed 17 turnovers, and missed 14 free throws. The Hawks took advantage of the Sixers’ errors, and won the game 103-96, eliminating the Sixers from the playoffs.
The Sixers’ loss to the Hawks was a huge disappointment and a shock for many fans, media, and NBA observers. The Sixers were widely expected to reach the conference finals, and possibly the NBA finals, given their talent and record. However, they failed to live up to their expectations, and fell short of their goals. Many blamed the Sixers’ collapse on their lack of leadership, cohesion, and mental toughness, and called for major changes in the team’s roster and coaching staff.
The Sixers are now facing a lot of uncertainty and questions about their future. Will they trade Simmons, who has been criticized for his poor shooting and passive play? Will they keep Embiid, who has been plagued by injuries and durability issues? Will they find a way to improve their bench and role players? Will they hire a new coach, who can instill a winning culture and a clear identity? Will they ever win a championship, or will they remain a perennial contender, but never a champion?
These are some of the questions that the Sixers and their fans are asking themselves, as they look ahead to the next season. The Sixers have a lot of potential and talent, but also a lot of problems and challenges. They have shown flashes of brilliance, but also moments of weakness. They have been praised and admired, but also mocked and ridiculed. They have been the Philly N.B.A. players NYT, but also the Philly N.B.A. players not yet.