Carter-Williams remains their leading talent after a great rookie season in the NBA…
READ MORE:
NBA Season Preview 2014/15 Toronto Raptors
NBA Season Preview 2014/15 Brooklyn Nets
NBA Season Preview 2014/15 New York Knicks
NBA Season Preview 2014/15 Boston Celtics
The Philadelphia 76ers endured a miserable season last year, and as they continue to rebuild, don’t expect much to improve in the coming campaign.
Last Season
The 76ers ended the regular season with a 19-63 record which included a 26-game losing streak, with the Milwaukee Bucks somehow still managing to fare worse in the Eastern Conference.
It wasn’t all doom and gloom in Philly though, as after an impressive start to the season under new Coach Brett Brown, they had been expected to do a lot better than they eventually did.
Nevertheless, as they continued to trade away their best players and acquire young talent and future Draft picks, it was clear that they were planning for the future and immediate success wasn’t high on their priority list, so basically they tanked.
Carter-Williams must continue to develop into franchise player
One of the leading lights in a dismal year was the play of rookie point guard Michael Carter-Williams, with the youngster being rewarded for his performances with the Rookie of the Year award.
Carter-Williams averaged 16.7 points, 6.2 assists and 6.3 rebounds in his first year in the NBA, and he undoubtedly proved that he has what it takes to become both a leader and consistent scorer for this team.
If the right pieces are put around him, then the Sixers could well enjoy a brighter future, but ultimately it remains to be seen whether they have added enough to see an immediate impact.
Effectively, Brown has two rookies at his disposal this season that could be fundamental to their progress. While there is a great deal of excitement around Joel Embiid, it will also be a fresh start for Nerlens Noel.
The pair will be hoping to fully recover from serious injuries in order to enjoy a long career in the league, and along with Carter-Williams, that is where the future of the 76ers lies in the years to come.
Philadelphia also have a lot of young European talent on their roster in the form of Vasilije Micic, Dario Saric and Alexey Shved, and so it may take some time for them to settle and gel before they are considered a playoff contender.
Prediction
This team is still young and inexperienced, but they undoubtedly have a lot of talent. While Carter-Williams and Noel will hope to be the stars of the show as Embiid works his way back from a foot injury (which could potentially keep him out all year), there isn’t enough on this roster to warrant a high finish in the East.
As a result, it could well be another battle for the Sixers to avoid bottom spot in the standings with the likes of the Milwaukee Bucks and Orlando Magic keeping them company for another year.
That may well even result in another year of tanking in order to work the system and make the most of some high Draft picks to continue to add talent. It is clear that the 76ers are unfortunately going nowhere fast with this team, and so their fans will be in it for the long haul.
COMMENTS