Why the injury-ravaged Sixers are still sleeping giants in the East

Starting 1-7 was not ideal, but the Philadelphia 76ers have recently shown attributes that could help them be a threat as the new year rolls on.

Despite a devastating injury to Jared McCain, the trio of Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George still have time to form true chemistry. Further, Philadelphia's depth may surprise down the stretch as the team attempts to make a playoff push.

From a common sense standpoint, Philadelphia will be a threat on any given night as long as at least one of their star players is healthy. Concerns regarding Embiid's availability will particularly make some weary about the team's viability. But load management may help him stay somewhat healthy and put together a string of wins alongside Maxey and George before the campaign comes to a close.

Presently, the Sixers are 24th in offensive rating and 14th in defensive rating. Both of these marks would likely be better if their main pieces were more available. Any final judgement on what the team "is" should be put off until later in the season.

The East is top-heavy this season. Cleveland, Boston, and New York are the most formidable squads. The rest of the conference is riddled with question marks. Factors such as age, chemistry, health, and experience may limit what teams like the Pacers, Bucks, and Magic can accomplish.

Why the Philadelphia 76ers are are still a threat in the Eastern Conference

As a result, healthy versions of the Sixers' "big three" could be too much for the middle-of-the-pack to handle in a playoff set. It should also be noted that Philadelphia has some interesting depth.

Kyle Lowry, Caleb Martin, Reggie Jackson, Guerschon Yabusele, and Eric Gordon could all surprise if the Sixers make the dance. This is especially true of Lowry and Martin, who have been in big games before.

Each individual has had solid playoff showings in the past and could keep the Sixers interesting if one of their stars has an off night. It will be important that head coach Nick Nurse finds the right minutes mix and places his role players in advantageous positions.

It is unlikely that the 76ers will compete for a top-four seed, but they have enough to warrant some level of fear.