10 Bold Predictions For The Sixers Season
They’re called ‘bold predictions’ for a reason.
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Another year, another set of bold predictions from yours truly. It’s truly amazing that I’m still allowed to do this, given that I’m shooting 40ish percent on my predictions season after season, but hopefully I’m providing some entertainment at the very least. Perhaps that number isn’t as bad as it seems -- they’re called bold predictions for a reason -- but regardless, here’s what my crystal ball tells me for this season.
No. 1: The Sixers trade Ben Simmons for Kyrie Irving
I’ve run this prediction by four or five people, and they’ve all said I’m insane. My belief has remained unchanged -- I truly think that this is the most likely possible outcome here.
Let’s start with this: wouldn’t this be the most Sixers thing to do? In this cursed path that the Sixers are on, how can you not expect each and every situation to have the most insane possible outcome? This is simply who they are; they are going to law-of-attraction this trade into existence.
On a more logical level, wouldn’t this be an extremely Daryl Morey move? Do you really think he’d rather trade Simmons for Malik Beasley and picks than a player like Kyrie Irving? Morey knows that the way you win is with star players. Is he really dragging this Simmons saga out in order to acquire a player of anything less than Irving’s caliber?
Let’s also not forget the powers behind the scenes that could help lead to this transaction. The players’ side of things is extremely powerful, and with all the money that Irving is losing, and all the money that Simmons could lose if he ever reignites his holdout, you can bet that the players’ representation will be exploring all possible avenues to remedy their clients’ situations.
Essentially what I see here is a perfect confluence of things coming together to lead to this deal. The Sixers and Nets both would love a remedy to their situations, and neither side has a good option for doing so. The players are losing money, and will see this as an easy and simple solution to their problems. There are obvious reasons for motivation, if not desperation for all sides involved. And perhaps most importantly, the laws of the universe seem to dictate that the Sixers must remain a lightning rod for insanity -- which this trade would certainly bring. I’m not saying any of this as an endorsement for trading for Irving; the dude could retire or disappear at any moment. I just believe it will happen.
No. 2: The Sixers remain top-8 in the league in defense without Simmons
The Sixers have been a top-8 defensive team in the league in all but one season (2018-19) with Ben Simmons on the roster. Despite the inevitable departure of Simmons, I’m still anticipating that they will remain quite good on defense.
They simply have too many good defensive players. Joel Embiid is a perennial DPOY candidate. Matisse Thybulle can likely be penciled into an All-Defensive team. Danny Green is still a major plus in the regular season. The rest of the roster is more or less average defensively, but let’s not forget that the Sixers also have an excellent coach on the defensive end in Dan Burke. I can’t imagine them falling off a cliff on that end.
No. 3: Doc Rivers makes a genuine attempt to play Andre Drummond and Joel Embiid together
I want to be clear about the parameters of this prediction: I am not saying that they will play 5 seconds together in some very specific situation (like bringing both guys on the floor at the end of a game to guard against a lob pass on the inbounds). I am not saying that some COVID or injury related decimation will cause them to play emergency minutes together. I am saying that Rivers will intentionally and unironically try to play the two of these guys together for some extended stretches during normal games.
Drummond mentioned in passing in an interview with Lauren Rosen that he expected to play some minutes alongside Embiid. I doubt that he’d bring it up unprompted if it wasn’t something he’d at least discussed with the coaching staff or front office.
There isn’t any one quote that makes me assume this, but my gut tells me that Rivers is far higher on Andre Drummond than just about anyone else in the Philadelphia area. I can very easily see him forcing Drummond into our lives far more than anyone is comfortable with.
No. 4: Shake Milton gets thrown into the Ben Simmons trade
Regardless of if Simmons is traded for Irving or for anyone else, I can easily imagine Shake Milton being thrown into the equation. Strange as it may sound, the Sixers have a bit of a glut at the back end of the rotation, and I could see Milton being cast away as a throw-in -- especially if the player coming back in the trade is guard.
Milton has had a rocky past year or so, and given that he just turned 25, it’s getting to the point where you wonder if he’ll ever become the player one hoped he’d be. Hopefully he’ll prove me wrong, whether that’s in Philadelphia or elsewhere, but he certainly hasn’t raised his trajectory over the past year or so.
No. 5: Jaden Springer averages <10 points per game in the G-League
Springer just isn’t there offensively yet. Love his defense, but he is a total project on the offensive end of the floor.
For reference, Zhaire Smith averaged 13.5 points per game in 2019-20 in the G-League.
No. 6: Matisse Thybulle shoots over 34 percent from 3
This prediction is mostly a gut feel, as we have barely seen any footage of Thybulle shooting since training camp started. I think that a summer of hard work combined with some increased confidence should help catapult him into average-ish territory as a shooter.
No. 7: Joel Embiid averages more 3-point attempts per game than Tobias Harris
Before you start thinking that this isn’t possible, I can assure you that it is. Embiid attempted 5.5 3s per 100 possessions in 2019-20, and Harris attempted 5.0 in 2020-21. Embiid’s attempts were down last season, so Harris had the upper hand, but the point is that he is consistently in the same range in terms of attempts.
On media day, both players expressed a desire to shoot more 3s. Simply put, I believe Embiid, but I do not believe Harris. I think Embiid’s attempts will go up, and Harris’ will stay the same.
No. 8: Tyrese Maxey averages over 14 points per game
Is this even bold? I’m not sure.
I wanted to keep it at a reasonable number, because who knows what the return for Simmons will be and how that will impact Maxey’s touches. Regardless, I think Maxey is in store for a big year. He will be the full time starter by Christmas, and he will be able to handle the responsibilities that come with being the primary perimeter initiator in the half court.
No. 9: Embiid once again finishes top-3 in MVP voting
This is a bolder prediction than many people would assume. Last year, the MVP race was wide open because of the number of injuries to star players. This year, presumably with a more crowded race, I still think that Embiid will be near the top.
Embiid is still maturing as a person and player, and seems to be in as great of shape as he was last year. All it would take for him to finish top-3 once again is for the Sixers to be a tad bit better than people are expecting. If the Sixers go on to win 52-55 games, the narrative could swing in an extremely positive direction for Embiid, as people will be quick to say that Embiid was the engine behind the Sixers’ winning all along, rather than Simmons.
No. 10: Tobias Harris makes his long-coveted All-Star team
I promise that this isn’t simply an olive branch to make up for my many criticisms of Harris. I genuinely think he should have the best year of his career this year.
One thing that’s been consistently true about Harris as long as he’s been a Sixer is that the amount of shooting he has around makes a monumental difference in his scoring efficiency and output. And yes, that’s true for most players, but especially so for Harris.
In 2019-20, for example, Harris’ efficiency skyrocketed when he played next to Al Horford at center. With how Harris likes to operate in the mid-post, having fewer players standing around in the dunker spot will free him up tremendously.
If there was one thing that stood out from the Sixers’ preseason games, it’s the sheer amount of shooting on this roster. They have several elite shooters, and a center who is intent on upping his shooting output. That alone should create more opportunities for Harris to create his own shot.
If the Sixers are better than expected, there could also be a Mike Conley-type dynamic, where Harris makes the All-Star team in part based on sentimental value. He’s been publicly campaigning for a spot on the All-Star team for years, and perhaps the story will line up for him to make it.