Philadelphia 76ers
Current Record: 26-19, Last 10: 8-2
Joel Embiid.
That is all you need to know about the Philadelphia 76ers right now because Joel Embiid has not only solidified himself as one of the best centers in the NBA, but one of the best all-around talents in the NBA and someone to keep an eye on in the MVP race this season.
Early on in the season, the 76ers struggled to find their footing, especially with the change of Ben Simmons not being with the team anymore, but a large part of their struggles was because Embiid was out. After playing in 9 of the 76ers’ first 10 games, going 8-2 in this span, Philadelphia’s All-Star center missed the team’s next 9 games, causing them to go 2-7 and fall down the standings early on in the year.
Due to multiple injuries and guys being in and out of health protocols, the 76ers were never really able to find their footing over the first month-and-a-half of the 2021-22 season, but they are starting to show what they are capable of.
Since having a game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Dec. 19 postponed due to health and safety protocols, the Philadelphia 76ers have gone 11-4 and have pushed their way back near the top of the Eastern Conference standings as they are currently the 6-seed and just 3.0 games back of first-place.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Ideal Outcome For NBA Trade Rumors; Grant, Turner, Schroder, More
Tobias Harris, Tyrese Maxey, Seth Curry and others have stepped up as secondary talents around Joel Embiid this season, but Embiid is really the reason why they are as good as they have looked.
Joel Embiid has been so dominant for the Sixers this season and since the start of December, the big man is averaging a league-high 30.6 points, 10.7 rebounds, 1.2 steals, 1.3 blocks and is shooting 52.1% from the floor. His improvements on the defensive-end of the floor have really been the turning point for Embiid this season and he is on a whole other level right now.
Scoring at least 30 points in 14 of his last 16 games and recording 14 double-doubles since the start of December, Joel Embiid is red hot right now and has the 76ers in a position to once again be a contender in the Eastern Conference.
However, the trade status of Ben Simmons still looms large over this franchise. What Daryl Morey and the Philadelphia 76ers front-office ultimately decide to do remains a mystery, but they have not lowered their expectations on what they receive in a Ben Simmons oriented trade.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Ideal Outcome For NBA Trade Rumors; Grant, Turner, Schroder, More
This season’s trade deadline is on Feb. 10, less than three weeks away now, and with no real traction being made in trade talks for Simmons, this situation could very well carry over into the offseason.
Tobias Harris has also been mentioned as a possible trade asset the Philadelphia 76ers will look to leverage this season, but do not expect many moves to be made by Philadelphia unless they finally agree to terms on a deal involving Simmons.
