By: Brandon Apter, managing editor 
With the Sixers in the midst of yet another long losing streak, there's still optimism for the future. Next season, the team could have up to four potential first-round picks along with Joel Embiid, if he makes a full recovery, and Dario Saric, if he indeed comes over from Turkey. Over the past week or so, injuries have plagued both Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor, allowing some other Sixers to get minutes for the first time, like Elton Brand. Here are some of the notable Sixers stories from the past week:
Joel Embiid continues to show long range during rehab
As 2014 first round pick Joel Embiid continues to go through his rehab from two foot surgeries, the former Kansas center has been seen draining three-point shots before and after games and at practice. Out of the three bigs on the Sixers roster, head coach Brett Brown believes Embiid has the best shot. Brown mentions that Embiid's beyond the arc release reminds him of Manu Ginobli from his time with the Spurs.
Slam dunk highlights Baron Davis' modest debut with 87ers
Last week the Sixers D-League affiliate, the Delaware 87ers, signed veteran point guard Baron Davis. Having not played in a game since 2012, Davis made his debut with the Sevens on Friday, March 4th and it wasn't pretty, but the 1999 third overall pick took the game as a victory ever since being taken off the court on a stretcher back in 2012 after a gruesome knee injury. Davis finished with eight points on 3-for-11 shooting
Sixers confident Dario Saric coming in '16-17 after recent visit
One of the biggest unknowns next to Joel Embiid next season is Croatian forward Dario Saric. The Sixers acquired Saric as a part of a draft night deal with the Magic that send Elfrid Payton to Orlando. While there have been plenty of reports that Saric plans to come to Philadelphia next season, until it actually happens, it really isn't 100%. One of the assistant coaches made a trip to Istanbul recently and the team remains confident that he'll join the Sixers come next season.
Sixers defense has become intolerable
The Sixers used to be a fun team to watch despite the losing, because the young core of players gave maximum effort despite the outcome. It gave fans a glimpse of hope for the future. Recently, that hasn't been the case, especially on the defensive end of things. Sunday's loss in Miami marked the teams' 12th in a row and 10th straight since returning from the All-Star break. The main problem? Defense. The Sixers, over their last 10 games, have given up 32.1 points in the first quarter and opposing teams are averaging 61.8 first-half points since the middle of February.
Inside the 76ers: Getting just three more wins could be a tough task
Keith Pompey of Philly.com points out that although the Sixers have 19 more games on their schedule, it might be difficult for them to get even three more wins. Although they have upcoming matchups against struggling teams that include the Nuggets, Knicks, Bucks and Nets, the Sixers have gone just 1-8 against those teams this season. If they can't claim a victory against any of those teams, they'll have their work cut out for them even more with remaining tilts against the Thunder, Celtics, Pacers, Golden State and Toronto to name a few.
Seltzer's Notebook: Landry's value, Smith's spikes
In a recent column from Brian Seltzer of Sixers.com, he examines what Carl Landry brings to the team and Ish Smith's recent stretch of success. Landry has gotten more playing time with the absence of both Okafor and Noel and the veteran forward has capitalized on those opportunities with scoring and on the boards, offensively and defensively. Meanwhile, in five games spanning February 28th to March 6th, Ish Smith averaged 20.2 points per game while shooting 51.3 percent from the floor in 35.7 minutes per game. Normally, he plays about 25.
