NBA Power Rankings: 2014-15 Eastern Conference Forecast

15.  Philadelphia 76ers — 19-63

If there was ever a time we wished and prayed for Joel Embiid to end his Twitter exuberance and return to the court, it would be in November.  It’s enjoyment for everyone to see him steal women’s heart, but it would make Brett Brown happier if he was rejecting men … at the rim.

Due to the unfortunate foot injury before the draft, Embiid is likely out of the rotation until February or March.  That, of course, is the medical timetable for something as severe as Embiid’s setback.  However, it’s not the timetable Sam Hinkie loves to hear.

“The team wants him back as soon as possible, he’ll help them win 35 games!”  No, pop a squat immediately.  Sit back and apologize to Hinkie for undermining his rebuilding expedition.  It’s not a trip, not a journey — those are too short to do this team justice.

Philadelphia wants the top pick for the next three years.  They sought after it in 2013, although it would’ve just equaled a disastrous player had they taken Anthony Bennett.  They wouldn’t have, considering you can actually make a case for this executive team being smarter than Cleveland’s former General Manager, Chris Grant (who was fired).

Nerlens Noel doesn’t just appear healthy and explosive, he looks as if a scientist transformed his old self and injected him with eight shots of special sauce.  His jump shot is reformed, actually looking better than god-awful.  Free throws used to be a concern at Kentucky, as Noel shot 53 percent from the line in his 24 games.  He’s had a full calendar year (and then some) to pick up on his technique, and that won’t be a large issue for him.

Still, Noel’s offense isn’t where it needs to be, even though he impressed others during the NBA Summer League.  Place him against league veterans, and offensive skills will appear just as they are: raw.

With Michael Carter-Williams and Jason Richardson leading the backcourt, you’ll see another version of the up-tempo style Philadelphia tried to play last season.  Topping the other 29 teams in Pace — 99.2 possessions per 48 minutes — the 76ers were lightning quick getting up the court and hoisting outside shots.  In the upcoming year, that will again hold true, but where’s the defensive presence outside of Noel’s shot blocking near the rim?

Hollis Thompson, Tony Wroten, and Elliot Williams aren’t ready to turn into defenders over one offseason, and it’s extremely harmful that this league’s top wing talents will continue feasting on the poor young guys.

Anthony Bennett isn’t coming over after all, as Minnesota kept him in the 3-team trade.  It doesn’t matter if Bennett lost two pounds, lifted 10-pound curls all summer or took 200 shots a day in practice, nothing is getting worse than his production with the Cavaliers as a rookie.  Perhaps they could have groomed him into something more than the laughing stock of prospects.

Lineups including Carter-Williams, Richardson, Thompson, Mbah a Moute, and Noel should be ideal, since it gives you the proper mix of penetration at point guard, two floor-spacers, an athletic power forward, and a fierce shot-swatter that’s seeking Rookie of the Year.

Philadelphia diminishes in their win total from last season due to the Eastern Conference not belonging in a homeless man’s grocery cart.  It’s not explicitly horrible any longer, so squeaking out a few wins a month becomes a steeper task than ever.  They’ll land what management wants them to, which is a 25 percent chance at winning the lottery.