Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
As the Philadelphia 76ers seek to win their first NBA championship since 1983, here’s what they’ll hope to accomplish in the coming months.
The Philadelphia 76ers won’t find out who they face in the first round of the 2021 NBA playoffs until Thursday, but it ultimately shouldn’t matter. Regardless of whether they draw the Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets or Indiana Pacers, they’ll have a decided advantage in the form of Joel Hans Embiid.
They also need to make sure their 7-foot MVP candidate emerges from the first round unscathed.
3. Philadelphia 76ers need to get through the first round as quickly as possible
With a potential conference finals matchup against the Brooklyn Nets or Milwaukee Bucks looming, they need to make quick work of overmatched opponents whenever they have the opportunity to do so.
If the starters can blow games open, they can buy themselves some well-deserved fourth-quarter rest. That could pay dividends in later rounds, particularly against a worn-down opponent that slogged through a tightly contested series.
That will start with their two All-Stars.