Philadelphia 76ers: 5 goals for Ben Simmons in 2017-18
1. Make Philadelphia a playoff contender
The lack of success for Philadelphia since 2000 has been astonishing. The team hasn’t posted a winning campaign in 12 years and has failed to make the playoffs each year since 2012.
Over the past three years, the 76ers have totaled 66 victories, one fewer than Golden State managed last year.
More from Hoops Habit
- 7 Players the Miami Heat might replace Herro with by the trade deadline
- Meet Cooper Flagg: The best American prospect since LeBron James
- Are the Miami Heat laying the groundwork for their next super team?
- Sophomore Jump: 5 second-year NBA players bound to breakout
- NBA Trades: The Lakers bolster their frontcourt in this deal with the Pacers
Ben Simmons, along with a promising young core featuring Joel Embiid, Dario Saric and Markelle Fultz, is expected to carry Philadelphia from a team that won just 28 games — the fourth-fewest in the NBA — into a true playoff contender this season.
Much of the teams’ success is connected to the impact Simmons can make during his professional debut. Simmons dominated a pickup game in Australia this week, scoring 17 of his 34 points of the contest in the fourth quarter.
Since hiring head coach Brett Brown in 2013, the 76ers have never finished higher than fourth in the Atlantic Division. Numerous stars have fled the Eastern Conference, with Jimmy Butler, Paul George and Paul Millsap all moving West, potentially opening up numerous playoff berths.
Next: Ranking NBA teams by tiers for the 2017-18 season
The 76ers have plenty of potential, but a successful season could be tied to the development of Simmons.