Jack Gawason and Logan Waterman
Staff Writers
After years of suffering and tanking, the process is finally starting to show results. The Sixers currently have their best winning percentage since the ’03 season and are sitting at sixth place in the Eastern Conference standings. Their success can be credited to upcoming stars Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. Joel Embiid is having a phenomenal season playing in all three events during all star weekend topping it off with a strong performance against the league's best players. Ben Simmons is having a phenomenal Rookie of the Year campaign averaging 16 points, 7 assists, and 7 rebounds per game. Other key players include youngster Dario Saric, Robert Covington, and T.J McConnell. Two under the radar off season signings in J. J. Redick and Amir Johnson have paid dividends as the two have absorbed plenty of minutes along with their leadership for the youngsters.
At the trade deadline the Sixers stayed quiet besides the small addition of Trevor Booker which proved to be trade that moved Jahlil Okafor out of Philly. They seemed to be satisfied with their progress but when Marco Belinelli and Ersan Ilyasova become available they had to add them to the roster. So far both have strived adding valuable minutes replacing star players. The have won ten of their last fourteen games and four of seven important games the biggest against the Cleveland Cavaliers. If they keep playing like this a playoff berth seems likely considering they have the easiest schedule in the East for the rest of the season. With this teams youth and the success they have already shown keeping in mind that their first round draft pick is still injured this team and the city of Philadelphia could be enjoying success for years to come.
