The Sixers open their 2017-18 regular season campaign tonight against John Wall and the Washington Wizards in our Nation's Capital. The game will be televised nationally at 7:00 p.m. on ESPN. With new faces and higher expectations this season, the staff of Sixerdelphia takes their best stab at predicting what to expect this season and whether or not the team will be good enough to make the playoffs.
Brandon Apter – @bapter23
While the expecatation is for this team to win 40 games and make the playoffs, I think it's important to temper those expectations and remember the pieces on this team will need to learn how to play with each other and build chemistry. That will take time and after trusting the process for such a long time already, it might be tough for this city to endure more losing. The talent is there with Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Markelle Fultz, J.J. Redick and Dario Saric, but health and development will determine exactly how far this Sixers team can go. The Eastern Conference has gotten weaker, opening the door for a team like Philadelphia, but for me, a season seeing Simmons run the offense, Fultz develop his shot and Embiid staying healthy are the most key, no matter how many games they win. In terms of win-loss though, I'm going to shoot low and hope that I'm wrong.
Prediction: 35-47
Josh Liddick – @JoshLiddickTalk
The Sixers are one of those teams this season that have so many ifs, and's, and buts, so it’s hard to seriously put them into consideration for a playoff spot. However, in a terribly weak Eastern Conference, there is no reason the Sixers shouldn’t be able to make a run at an eight or even seven seed. In order to make that pipe dream a reality though, the Sixers need full health from all of their players, and yes, that’s mainly pointing to Joel Embiid. I do think that Ben Simmons and eventually Markelle Fultz will be the main factors for the Sixers winning a championship in the future, but in order to get into the playoffs, they need Embiid to play more than 50 games this season. If Embiid is able to play at least 50 games, including the key ones, and is able to stay healthy until the end of the season, the Sixers are a playoff team. The organization made a lot of offseason moves to get them into playoff position, like the signings of J.J. Redick and Amir Johnson. I like the direction they are going, and we’ve already seen what the Sixers are capable when all of their players are on the court at the same time. Deadly.
Prediction: 41-41
Jesse Larch – @JesseLarch
This is a monumental season for the Sixers. We are finally closing out the first phase of the process, and tonight Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, Markelle Fultz, and Dario Saric will all play in the same game for the Philadelphia 76ers. After being so patient throughout The Process it would be almost contradictory to say that anything short of the playoffs this season would be a disappointment, but with so much of the talent in the Eastern Conference going west the Sixers should be able to sneak into the playoffs as a low seed. I am predicting 39 wins this season, and for the sixers to make a name for themselves in the playoffs with the training wheels finally taken off of Joel Embiid in the postseason.
Prediction: 39-43
Tom Long – @tomlong36
Prediction: 37-45
Dante Nelson – @dantewrites
The Sixers have a real chance to make the playoffs. Unfortunately though, I see them missing it and finishing in either 9th or 10th in the conference. I don't believe Embiid will remain healthy and the games he misses, whether to team resting or him hurt, will be a problem. The Sixers are not winning more than 41 games. But, this season is going to be fun. A lot of fun.
Prediction: 41-41
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