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Philadelphia 76ers: 5 reasons to be excited for 2018-19 NBA season

BySimon Smith|
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 24: The Philadelphia 76ers celebrate the series win after the game against the Miami Heat in Game Five of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2018 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 24: The Philadelphia 76ers celebrate the series win after the game against the Miami Heat in Game Five of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2018 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
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(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
(Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

4. Ben Simmons’ encore year

Very few rookies in recent memory have the impact Ben Simmons had in 2017-18. Not only did he take home the Rookie of the Year award, Simmons set some incredible records along the way.

One of the more noteworthy was the following accomplishment in the midst of the Sixers’ 16-game winning streak to conclude the regular season:

Aside from putting together these numbers in his debut season, possibly the most impressive aspect of this accomplishment was that it was done without the services of Joel Embiid for the final six of these 14 games.

Furthermore, Simmons was an incredible +202 while on the floor during this span, while also recording an excellent 4:03 assist-to-turnover ratio.

The last number relating to Simmons’ turnover ratio was one of the most notable improvements the 6’10” Simmons made over the course of his debut year. Up until the All-Star break, Simmons had registered an ordinary 1:98 assist-to-turnover ratio in 54 games.

However post the break, Simmons’ ratio leapt to an elite 3:40 ratio. To put this number in perspective, of all players who averaged at least 30 minutes per game last season, only Chris Paul (3:57) registered a greater return.

Entering the season, coach Brown also forecasts improving his free-throw percentage, after Simmons finished at a terrible 56.0 percent clip:

"“Imagine if he can score one more point, it translates to like three to five more wins. When I look at how you’re going to do that, that’s one way that interests me, let’s just get him more free throws. Can you finish, can you be a better free-throw shooter than you were in the regular season? He has to be.”"

While the highlights and triple doubles will undoubtedly return, if he can just fine tune certain aspects such as his turnover rate and free throw percentage, the sky is the limit for Simmons and the Sixers in 2018-19 and beyond.