To best explain where the Sixers are as a franchise, they left the 2014 NBA Draft with Joel Embiid (who is expected to miss the entire season) and Dario Saric (who may not play in the NBA for two seasons). Yes, this occurred a year after Philly drafted Nerlens Noel, who sat out all last year recovering from an ACL injury.
The 76ers have made little to no effort in improving their roster for this season. They signed borderline D-league players. Philly is already tanking and haven’t even played a single game.
It will be a long ass year in Philadelphia.
We will be posting a team preview for every team up until the start of the regular season.
Here is the 2014-15 NBA season preview for the Philadelphia 76ers.
2013-14 Win/Loss Record: 19-63
Key Additions: PF Nerlens Noel (because he didn’t play last year), C Joel Embiid (who probably won’t play this year), PG Alexey Shved, PF Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, SF Jerami Grant, SF Chris Johnson, SG K.J. McDaniels, PF JaKarr Sampson & PF Malcolm Thomas
Key Losses: SF Thaddeus Young, SG James Anderson, C Byron Mullens, SG Ellitt Williams, SG Darius Johnson-Odom, PF Arnett Moultrie, PF Jarvis Varnado, PG Eric Maynor & PG Casper Ware
Projected Starters: Henry Sims, Nerlens Noel, Hollis Thompson, K.J. McDaniels & Michael Carter-Williams
Fantasy Sleeper: C Henry Sims – Sims began the year in Cleveland, but was part of the Spencer Hawes trade. He flourished upon arriving in Philly. The team wasn’t winning games, but Sims was an offensive rebound-magnet. He averaged more than three per game. He is expected to start while Joel Embiid sits out the year. He will be next to Nerlens Noel, a talented shot blocker. Sims could benefit from getting more rebound opportunities while Noel is in the air trying to block shots. Sims is a really nice streaming candidate.
Team Analysis: I always laugh when someone says (insert college) could beat (insert professional sports team) if they played. It’s ridiculous to think a team full of 20-year olds could beat a team of grown men. Well, it’s not so ridiculous when you look at this year’s Sixers roster, it’s bad…really bad.
The Sixers are making it clear they aren’t playing for this year…or next year. They are drafting players who aren’t prepared to play right away. They are just buying time while they rebuild. at this pace, they will have a playoff-ready team by 2017-18.
This season’s mission is not trying to improve Michael Carter-Williams and Nerlens Noel by stacking the roster with veterans who will teach them how to be pros. Nope, this year’s mission in Philadelphia is to get as many ping pong balls in the NBA Lottery. That’s it.
I have a feeling the NBA Lottery Gods will not allow Philly to get the #1 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. They have struck down so many teams like them in the past.
2014-15 Wins Over/Under Betting Line: 17 (Prediction: UNDER)
2014-15 Projected Win/Loss Record: 15-67 (15th in Eastern Conference)
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About the Author…
Bobby Roberts (otherwise known as Sweetbob) is the creator of ‘America’s White Boy’ and contributor at Project Shanks. His writing has been featured on ESPN’s ‘SportsNation’, Sports Illustrated’s Hot Clicks, Guyspeed, and various other sites. You can follow him on Twitter at @Sweetbob.