The Philadelphia 76ers have been surging lately, they have a record of 11-6 in 2018 and have been playing excellently on both sides of the ball. The 76ers are having an incredible 2018 and may make their first playoff appearance since 2010.
The team is having a successful year due to the continued emergence of All-Star center, Joel Embiid and rookie phenom Ben Simmons. Both players have been playing their best basketball of the season.
Embiid is having a phenomenal sophomore season. He is currently averaging 23.8 points per game, grabbing 11.2 rebounds, and averaging 3.2 assists per game.
Simmons is also proving to be a phenomenal running mate for Embiid. He scores 16.7 points per game, grabs 7.7 rebounds per game, and averages 7.3 assists per game.
The 76ers are surging at the right time, especially with the All-Star break coming up in the NBA.
The team has a 28-25 record and are in 8th place in the competitive Eastern Conference. They are also four games back of the fourth seeded Wizards.
During their most recent game the 76ers beat the New Orleans Pelicans. The 76ers defense played a big part in the victory. The Sixers were able to force key turnovers during the game, that would kill scoring drives for the Pelicans.
The 76ers also have been averaging a 6.5-point differential in 2018. If this defensive prowess and point differential continues, the Sixers may be a real threat for a deep playoff run in the East.
The 76ers are not a perfect team though, they need a third scoring option, to take pressure off Embiid and Simmons. JJ Reddick has not been living up to the hype. He has missed a bunch of games due to injury and is also not hitting shots consistently.
Outside shooting has been a huge weakness for the Sixers. If they want to make a deep playoff run, they need to find a third scoring option and find some more veterans. To help the players learn how to execute in the fourth quarter.