Philadelphia 76ers: 2017-18 NBA season preview
By Simon Smith
Predictions
Considering the season is just a few weeks away, early predictions for the Sixers’ prospects this season have begun to trickle through.
The 140-strong panel at ESPN recently projected the Sixers to post a 37-45 record this season, placing them at eighth spot in the Eastern Conference. While this represents a nine-game improvement over last season, it’s fair to say the Sixers’ hierarchy will have higher expectations entering this season.
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Considering the Sixers won 28 games season without Simmons, Fultz, Redick and just 31 games from Embiid, a nine-game improvement is underestimating the potential of this group significantly.
This summer has seen the strength of the Eastern Conference depleted with the departures of the likes of Paul George, Jimmy Butler and Paul Millsap to the Western Conference. Considering their respective former teams made the playoffs last season, it’s highly doubtful these teams will recover sufficiently in order to make a serious playoff run.
This prediction for the upcoming season is predicated on the fact that the Sixers will have as close to a full bill of health as possible. It’s no accident that the Sixers have been chosen for a nationally televised game for their season opener against the Washington Wizards, or that they have been chosen for the marquee Christmas Day slot at Madison Square Garden to take on the New York Knicks.
This clearly indicates the NBA head office have high expectations for the Sixers. And deservedly so.
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My expectation is for the Sixers to post a 45-37 record, good for fifth in the Eastern Conference. The combination of a significantly improved roster, and a depleted Eastern Conference, should ensure the Sixers make their first trip to the postseason since 2012.