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Philadelphia 76ers starting lineup: Locks, fringe, and potential break-ins

By Larry Hammonds

Nov 12, 2019; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons (25) dribbles alongside center Joel Embiid (21) during the second quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 12, 2019; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons (25) dribbles alongside center Joel Embiid (21) during the second quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Philadelphia 76ers (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Philadelphia 76ers (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Locks for the Philadelphia 76ers starting lineup: Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris

Obviously, All-Stars and franchise cornerstones Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid are locked into their roles. Simmons entered training camp feeling “100 percent” after his season was cut short with a knee injury in the NBA bubble. Doc Rivers refuses to designate Simmons to any specific position, but he was willing to say (spoiler alert) Simmons will be the team’s primary facilitator.

Embiid is the defensive anchor of a 76ers defense that rated as the eighth-best in the NBA last season. He’s a center that checks all the boxes on both ends of the court and is the heart and soul of the Philadelphia 76ers. The only thing that can stop one of these two from being in the starting lineup will be injury or trade.

Tobias Harris, set to make $34.36 million this season, is the third option on offense and the only other player on the Sixer’s roster guaranteed a spot in the starting lineup. He needs to be more aggressive in looking for his own shot, but there’s optimism among the Philly faithful that he can improve next year after reuniting with Rivers.

Harris played the best basketball of his career while playing for Rivers when the two were still with the LA Clippers back in 2018. It will be a bit different the second time around with Harris being the third option rather than the first on offense but there’s still hope he can recapture that magic.

If Harris can get close to the level of production and efficiency he displayed when Elton Brand traded for him, Philly will have a significant chance to win the East.