76ers Given Immense Respect in Latest NBA Title Contender Rankings

Until the NBA season begins, there will always be a question of where a team ranks. 

The Philadelphia 76ers may be a contender for an NBA title, but it doesn’t mean that’s where they belong. ESPN has decided to put every team in specific tiers. The 76ers were placed in “High Upside Finals Contenders."

It’s really not a bad tier to be in when you think about it. The team is unproven and has way too many new faces to just be placed as a Finals favorite. Even if they have LeBron James on the roster. 

This team's upside outweighs every other team simply because they’re so balanced. Nearly every position has added depth; the only one that lacks is the center position.  A situation that the front office is in the process of rectifying. 

It stands to question why it’s upside and not a guaranteed lock; it’s simple, really. The health of this team is a major concern. The entire starting unit missed 106 games last year. LeBron James and Joel Embiid combined for 66 of those games. 

James, even after dealing with ailing injuries, put up great numbers, averaging around 20 points per game and 6.7 assists. Embiid, on the other hand, has dealt with this for most of his career. Last season, he missed 44 games, hence the desire to slim down in recent videos. 

It’s not going to be any start for the team by any means. But, as the season goes on, there’s sure to be some continuity within the team. 

The main upside to this team is the different ways that they can score. This isn’t just a jump shooting team like last year. With the added athleticism in Jaylen Brown, coupled with the savviness of Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe.

Nick Nurse has to be the one who changes everyone’s mind in regard to how this team plays. Expect to see plenty of shots up before the shot clock dwindles under ten seconds. Nurse is a genius at innovating a fast-paced opposition. He will have different lineups for the situation at hand. Nurse could play small ball, which would have James at center. 

The team is set and ready to get things going. It’ll be a fair fight throughout the season, but when you're rolling hot into the season, you must push yourself to the brink of exhaustion if it means getting a chance at a ring.