Rookie guard VJ Edgecombe is hoping to make a deep playoff run this season. What are Philly's chances of making it out of the conference?
"You want to win a championship. That’s the feeling I wanna have. I don’t want a second-round exit. Or third-round exit. You want a championship exit. You want to win," Philadelphia 76ers rookie V.J. Edgecombe said.
That quote from Edgecombe isn't just rookie bravado; it captures the mindset of the 76ers as they enter the postseason.
While Philadelphia has nice pieces for the future, they still want to win a championship now, while they still have pieces such as Joel Embiid playing well. Edgecombe's mindset mirrors that of a roster built to contend now.
Philly's ceiling starts with Joel Embiid. When healthy, he remains one of the most dominant forces in the league, capable of taking over a series with his offensive dominance. Tyrese Maxey has emerged as one of the league's most explosive guards, giving the Sixers a dynamic scoring duo that can match up with almost anyone.
The question, as it has been in past seasons, is consistency and availability.
Injuries have disrupted rhythm throughout the year, forcing younger players, like Edgecombe, into bigger roles. To his credit, the rookie has responded well and produced; his development adds another layer to Philadelphia's offense.
Still, the path won't be easy.
Teams such as the Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, and Toronto Raptors all have depth, chemistry, and playoff experience. For the Sixers to break through, everything will need to go well, from figuring out suffocating defenses to gameplanning for some of the most explosive offenses in the NBA. Philly will need to beat numerous teams that the general public thinks are better than them.
Edgecombe's quote highlights his confidence, but the rookie will need to back those words up on the court to ensure the Sixers can make a deep playoff run this season.
If Embiid is healthy, Maxey can produce, and Edgecombe builds on his breakout rookie year, Philadelphia has the chance to make a serious run, but in a conference filled with an influx of contenders, the margin for error is very thin.
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Wes Dixon is a contributing writer to 76ersRoundtable. He can be reached at dixonwesley286@gmail.com