Philadelphia 76ers: 5 keys to making the playoffs in 2017-18

4. Improving overall team defense

The Philadelphia 76ers weren’t a terrible defensive team last season, although they surrendered 108.1 points per game during the 2016-17 campaign. They ranked 24th in the league in that category, but their defensive rating (108.9) ranked 17th in the NBA, per Basketball-Reference.

The Sixers should be a better team defensively with the addition of Markelle Fultz, a healthy Ben Simmons and a healthy Joel Embiid, which is paramount for a run to the NBA Playoffs. Embiid serves as an anchor in the paint, while Simmons gives them a lengthy defender on the wing or in the post, depending on the matchup.

Fultz has shown flashes of what he can do and has the makings of a defensive leader. He’s something of a chase-down block artist, which came out a bit in his time as a member of the Washington Huskies.

Point guard T.J. McConnell and forward Robert Covington are two other players who can find roles to improve the team defense. If head coach Brett Brown can find a way to turn this group into a strong defensive club, the playoffs could be well in sight.