Philadelphia 76ers: 5 keys to making the playoffs in 2017-18
5. Optimal health
The Sixers have a good opportunity to make the NBA Playoffs with their given core of players, but they’ll need to remain healthy if they hope for it to be a true success.
They’ve already missed out on center Joel Embiid for most of the past three seasons. He’s played 31 total games since being taken third overall in the 2014 NBA Draft. Embiid was only recently cleared for 5-on-5 drills.
Embiid is doing full court 5-on-5. Embiid is doing full court 5-on-5. Embiid is doing full court 5-on-5.
— Jessica Camerato (@JessicaCamerato) October 5, 2017
Point forward Ben Simmons is set to make his season debut as well. He missed all of the 2016-17 season with a broken foot. Newly drafted guard Markelle Fultz also missed time in NBA Summer League after sustaining a sprained ankle, but he’s ready to go this season.
The young guys aren’t the only ones who were sidelined with an injury. Shooting guard Jerryd Bayless missed 79 games last year after undergoing surgery on his wrist. He signed as a free agent in the 2016 offseason but was shelved in the early going. He appears to be ready to go for 2017-18 along with Embiid and Simmons.
The Philadelphia 76ers will need everybody on their roster healthy if they hope to make a run at the playoffs. They solved most of their weaknesses from a season ago, now they just have to build on it and look to improve.