The Ringer’s Bill Simmons talks with Zach Lowe about the Philadelphia 76ers heading into this season with a revamped roster built around James Harden and Joel Embiid.
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50 Comments
Harden never plays well in playoffs…embiid always injured….um what am i missing?
I’m sorry but the 76ers are cooked
Hmm yes, we are pretty sure
I love how we're just pretending Harden isn't cooked. But he is.
Lmaoooooo
Milwaukee gon run them boys out the gym! Bucks in 5
Tyrese Maxey is a SUPERSTAR ⭐🔥
what are we even talking about? The Cels made the finals, the Bucks are still incredible, and Miami and Brooklyn are still going to be competitive (less so Brooklyn)
On paper, I’d argue that the sixers have the most talented roster in the league. That being said, it’s tough to bet on harden and doc ricvers making it through 4 straight playoff rounds without choking
As long as Tobias Harris is taking up an all star slot, that team isn't winning unless Embiid goes god mode
Zach Lowe come home to the Ringer
Are they title contenders!? Sure… are the title FAVORITES HELLLLL NOOO…
They’re not even favorites in the East
No
Lol this is just hilarious to me. They shouldn't even be in the top 5 of contenders. Doc Rivers and James Harden are two of the biggest playoff chokers in NBA history, and then you can't rely on Embid to be healthy throughout the playoffs
Doc Rivers is the only thing holding the team back, I think Sam Cassell should replace him
What have they shown us to warrant them being the favourites? Boston and Milwaukee are still more proven and have shown they can reach the highest level.
Currently I got Warriors, Clippers, Grizzlies, Mavericks, Nuggets, Suns, Bucks, Celtics, Nets, Heat all better than the 76ers
Giannis slander
76ers < Bucks, Clippers, Warriors => clearly no.
No its not
Who’s coming off the bench 😭😭
A team led by Doctor Rivers and Jim Harden being title favorites? Nah
Sixers arent going anywhere with Doc and old Harden
Yes we are sure this isnt the 76ers year
second round exit.
With Doc Rivers as a coach, they are not winning the title. East coast maybe, but just maybe.
Philadelphia 2ndRounders
There not talented enough bucks will kill this team
How many times has it been “Philly’s year”? It seems like the 4th or 5th year in a row
I think a lot of Hopium would have to go into believing that the Sixers could the favorites to win it all. For starters, I don't think Harden is the scoring machine he was and even if he was he would have to overcome the stigma as the guy who typically shrunk in big moments. Next, for the 76ers to make it to the Finals (let alone win it) Embiid would have to take his game to a different level (even after his MVP caliber season) as would Maxey and Harris. On top of that their best players (outside of Harden) lack Big Game experience and would likely be going up against much more experienced teams like the Celtics, Bucks, and Heat (they would likely have to beat at least two in route to the finals). Could it happen? Maybe with a lot (ALOT) of Ifs. Will it happen? I wouldn't put money on it.
Nope. Warriors.
Im sure dont know about the rest
Hell no
Like them make it outta the 2nd round first before we starting talking about favorites
Sixers have no shot
There’s a lot of variables. Can the Nets big three figure it out? How will Boston be after the off season drama? Are the Cavs taking that next step? The only team I’m pretty certain about being a top three seed is Milwaukee. That said, if Maxey keeps playing like he’s been playing in preseason I absolutely think they’ll come out the east.
Joel’s health over 20+ post season games will determine the fate of 76ers. Harden, Maxey, Harris or whoever will have little impact without Joel in the post season. Jason Tatum and Steph Curry played 20+ post season games without missing a single game. Only one won a championship
Since 2008, nobody has done less with more than Doc Rivers. NOBODY.
This isn't even opinion, it's proven fact. He has dined and dined WELL off of that 08 title. You can chalk 09 to the KG injury, but they gave away the 10 title with Kobe damn near cryogenic from the field. After that, Miami just routinely ran their pockets. Then Doc exits Boston ahead of the rebuild, goes to the Clips and can't get them to the West Finals. He leaves, THEY GET TO THE WEST FINALS!!! Now we get Philly and yeah.
You could make Philly the favorite and they will find a way to stumble over themselves either in the 1st or East Semis.
Stop stealing my words from the day james harden joined
Should James Harden and Joel "never played 80 games" Embiid be the favorites???? Why is this even a question?
Why does bill think PJ Tucker will be "important for the Harden evolution?" does he remember that Tucker was on ALL of those Rockets teams that choked?
I just hope Embiid gets his MVP this year.
This team has given us ZERO reason to believe they can do anything when it matters. Their only shot was 2019, and this is a completely different team than in 2019. Of course it’s possible that they suddenly figure it out, but they’ve given us no reason whatsoever to bet on it happening.
I’m a Sixers fan and no it’s not.
1. Doc Rivers is a terrible coach
2. The West is better.
Thybulle is the exact opposite of a playoff guy
Love podcasts with Zach and Bill reunited
Daryl Morey is their GM so no
Comment section is missing a lot of things
1. Maxey is an all-star caliber player
2. The Sixers only need Harden to be a passer, and that is something he will always be elite at. They will be getting 65-70 ppg from Maxey, Harris and Embiid
3. Yes we say this about the sixers every year and maybe this is just another one of those years. But regardless, this is the best team the sixers have had by a longshot
Two of the “favorites” this year, Sixers and Clippers, both have history against them, until they prove otherwise. Until they actually win in the playoffs, Clippers will always clip and Harden will always Soften when times Toughen.
Simmons: I believe in guys who have proved they can do it in the playoffs.
Also Simmons: A team with James Harden playing and Doc Rivers Coaching is a title favourite.
WTF?