Philadelphia 76ers: Road to the Conference Finals

Philadelphia 76ers: Road to the Conference Finals

This offseason, the Philadelphia 76ers have had a controversial summer. James Harden had a major falling out with general manager Daryl Morey. This made many 76ers fans nervous. The season is rolling. The fanbase is happy with Joel Embiid having another MVP season. Tyrese Maxey is making the jump to an All-Star level. This has been a new breath of air for the franchise with a new head coach, Nick Nurse. And the 76ers have added the right role players this offseason to surround their two stars.

Joel Embiid is having another MVP season. He has been on a tear since averaging 35 points per game, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists on 61 true shooting percentage. He is a beast on the court and gets his buckets at will. Embiid has established himself as one of the greatest centers of all time. The big man has averaged 11 free throws, which proves that he creates contact and gets his points at the line. Embiid is one of my favorite players to watch, as he can shoot from anywhere on the court.

The former MVP is one of the best defenders in the league since coming to the NBA. Joel has earned a spot on the All-Defense team three times. This proves that he has been one of the league's best defensive bigs. Embiid is an elite rim protector and an out-of-this world on-ball defender. The All-Star has been one of the best scorers in the NBA. He has won back-to-back scoring titles. But, with Embiid, the question comes: when the hell will he make the jump when it matters?

When the playoffs roll around, Joel Embiid becomes a shell of himself. He's so annoying to watch as he chokes out against the opposing teams. There is no reason why Embiid hasn't made an appearance in an Eastern Conference game. For a player who is a top-10 player in the NBA, there is absolutely no excuse for him to make the finals. How are you blowing a 3-2 lead over the Boston Celtics or losing to a 5'11 midget in Trae  Young?" Last postseason, Embiid averaged 23 points per game. This is a huge drop-off from his 31 points per game in the regular season. Joel is the worst superstar playoff performer ever. That's crazy, considering James Harden is in the same league. Despite Joel's shortcoming, there is no doubt he is one of the best players. Now, with Maxey taking the jump, we could see a new result in the playoff.

What a jump Tyrese Maxey has made this season! He is soon to make his first well-deserved All-Star appearance. His stats include 26 points per game, 7 assists, and a 59% true shooting percentage. His floaters are a work of art with a beautiful arc. When he throws his shots up, it is impossible to block. He is one of the fastest players in the NBA, which gets him to the rim with ease. He has been above average behind the three, shooting 38 percent. Maxey has one of the best offensive ratings in the NBA as of right now. Tyrese might not be the best defender, but he plays with heart. The young star has had many masterclass performances.

Against the Houston Rockets, Tyrese Maxey dropped 42 points without Jol Embiid. He showed 76ers fans that when it matters, he can lead the franchise to wins. The Houston Rockets, led by Ime Udoka, are not a joke. Maxey himself has been able to defeat the team with a bunch of role players. The 23-year-old is special. He is the perfect second option for Joel Embiid, as he is good playing off of him. While Maxey and Embiid have lived up to their hype, one guy who has not is Tobias Harris.

Tobias Harris is a role player who is getting All-Star-level money. That is the best way to put it. Harris committed highway robbery. He accepted a 5-year, 180 million-dollar contract. This was one of the worst off-seasons of the franchise ever. Elton Brand must have seen something special in Tobias for him to pay him a fuck ton of money. Every day, 76ers fans cry when they see Tobias Harris being average on the court. He doesn't do anything significant. Tobias can't step up when the game matters the most. This is weak considering how good the third option is in Boston and Milwaukee.

 The 31-year-old veteran is averaging 17 points per game, 6 rebounds, and a 64 percent true shooting percentage. That is not good for the kind of money and role Tobias has. The 76ers need to remove Tobias from their books. Many teams, like the Pistons, are willing to take on his contract. He is way too inconsistent, and it has cost many games. Nick Nurse's system has been perfect for the veteran, as he runs plays for him, which puts him in a position to score. Tobias, along with many veterans, have been good fits for the two stars.

The Harden trade has helped the 76ers improve their depth. Marcus Morris Sr. has been a rotational player for the 76ers this year. He hit the game-winning four-point play against the Houston Rockets. Robert Covington is back to where he started. He is a good rotational 3&D player for the team. Nicolas Batum is a notable veteran who can shoot and pass the ball. Shake Milton is a shooter for the 76ers franchise. Kelly Oubre is another good 3&D performer who has shown himself to step up in certain games. He is one of the best role players in the league. De'Anthony Milton has been a good defender since he got to Philadelphia. Last but not least is the man himself, Patrick Beverley. He is the man who changes the locker room anywhere he goes. He is willing to get it from anybody. He plays with his heart in his sleeve and is competing night in and night out. These guys are the perfect players to put next to along with Nick Nurse.

 One of the best NBA coaches of the past decade is Nick Nurse. The man who won the Toronto Raptors their first title is now in Philly, trying to take them over the hump. This season. The 76ers have been the second-best defensive team in the NBA and the third-best offensive team in the NBA. He has made Embiid out to be more of a playmaker, which is why he has had his best assist season. No more do the 76ers stand around for Embiid to post up. Now, the ball is moving, and offense is being generated. The hand-offs between Embiid and Maxey are as sexy as Jamal Murry's and Jokic's hand-off passes. Nick Nurse is a mad genius on the coaching end.

 All credit goes to Daryl Morey for having one hell of an offseason. He bought in the right veterans like Patrick Beverley, resigned Daniel House, and resigned Paul Reed. Also, the signing of Nick Nurse has changed the direction for the 76ers. Now, they are one of the best teams in the league. The franchise has done a good job dealing with the James Harden trade. Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey are now the franchise anchors, but it is yet to be seen if they can take the franchise over the edge and make a conference finals run.

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