A defensive dynasty beckons for the Philadelphia 76ers

With their core starting lineup returning to the fold, the Philadelphia 76ers have the potential to become one the all-time great defensive outfits.

One thing that’s proven irrefutable over time is that defense wins championships.

After winning three of the last four NBA titles, the Golden State Warriors have maintained the trend, with their ninth-ranked defensive rating from last season being the lowest ranking of this dominant stretch.

Prior to the Warriors, the Miami Heat were a top-seven defense over their back-to-back run of 2012 and 2013, while the San Antonio Spurs ranked in top four teams for defensive rating in each of their five title years since 1999.

Last season, the Philadelphia 76ers made enormous strides in not only the standings, but also on the defensive end of the floor. Having finished a mediocre 17th in defensive rating in 2016-17, the Sixers roared up to finish in third place with an elite 102.0 rating. While there were a number of factors to explain this rise, the individual performances of some of their starting group stand out.

Robert Covington became the first Sixer since Dikembe Mutombo in 2000-01 to be selected to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. As the Sixers increased their win total from 28 to 52 in one of the more notable one-season jumps in recent years, Covington was finally recognized following several seasons of elite defensive work on the perimeter.

At 6’9″ and with a 7’2″ wingspan, Covington’s ability to cover a range of players on the perimeter is tailor-made for the modern-day NBA. Along with rookie teammate Ben Simmons, Covington was one of just three players in the league to record at least 120 steals and 70 blocks last season.

Most impressively, the Sixers were an incredible 8.4 points per 100 possessions better off defensively when Covington was on the floor.

However, it wasn’t just Covington who excelled in this area. In his first full season on the court, Joel Embiid added to his first time selection as an All-Star by being chosen to the All-Defensive Second Team.

After playing just 31 total games over his first three seasons in the league, Embiid responded in his 63 appearances by quickly establishing himself as one of the more dominant defensive performers in the league.

Overall, Embiid ranked ninth in the league in rebounding, sixth in blocks, while his elite 99.7 defensive rating ranked second among all centers who averaged at least 30 minutes per game. The fact that Embiid earned his selection despite missing 19 games in just his first full season in the league is testament to the impact the 24-year-old had on the Sixers’ success.

Then there is Simmons, who in addition to his offensive capabilities was able to make a significant difference on the defensive end. At 6’10” and possessing incredible lateral quickness, Simmons’ impact was so profound that he managed to receive five First Team votes on the All-Defensive ballot.

With these three essential pieces in place, the Sixers’ returns on the defensive end can only improve moving forward. Following Covington’s selection to the All-Defensive First Team, there is no reason why the Sixers can’t become the first team since the Spurs in 2007-08 to feature teammates on the First Team, when the Spurs’ Tim Duncan and Bruce Bowen were selected together for the third time as a duo.

In a suddenly wide open Eastern Conference, Philly’s defense could be the difference in determining just how far the 76ers rise next season.