3 strengths of the Philadelphia 76ers that could be key to their success in the 2021-22 NBA season

#2 The Philadelphia 76ers have several scoring options

Seth Curry (#31) and Tobias Harris (#12) of the Philadelphia 76ers celebrates.

Most teams build around a certain player and run the offense through him, something that is also true for the Philadelphia 76ers. However, their roster is filled with elite scorers who can produce even when their franchise player is unavailable.

Joel Embiid is the go-to guy in offense for the Philadelphia 76ers, as the Cameroonian can do it all. He is deadly in the paint, but can pull up from any area of the court. Embiid ended the 2020-21 campaign averaging 37.7% on three attempts from the three-point land.

Danny Green is another exceptional shooter on the Philadelphia 76ers' roster. He has been a part of three championship teams, with his most recent run coming with the 2020 NBA champions, the LA Lakers. Green shot 40.5% from beyond the arc in his first season with the Sixers.

Meanwhile, Seth Curry and Tobias Harris are also worthy of mention, as they are significant contributors offensively. Outside of Simmons, the Philadelphia 76ers have a starting five that shoots at an effective clip from the three-point range, and can also hurt the opposition in the post.

The Philadelphia 76ers conducted good business in the offseason, bringing in Georges Niang, who is a career 40% shooter from beyond the arc. Combined with Forkan Korkmaz off the bench, the Sixers offer a legitimate shooting threat.

---

#3 Superior defense

Joel Embiid (#21) of the Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers ranked second in defensive rating last season, ranking behind the LA Lakers, thanks to their gritty plays. However, a few players' contributions were more significant at the defensive end of the court.

Embiid dominated the paint with occasional help from Harris, averaging 1.4 blocks per game. His frame helps him effortlessly defend against other bigs in the low post.

Simmons and Green patrolled the perimeter for the Philadelphia 76ers, making steals and forcing turnovers. Big Ben's contribution is more worthy of note, as he was the runner-up in the 2021 NBA Defensive Player of the Year award.

Off the bench, Matisse Thybulle performed almost as well as Simmons, as he remained a constant presence on the perimeter. Based on how the Ben Simmons saga unfolds, Thybulle could be the replacement as the starting point guard. He already took on the role in the playoffs when Rivers had to bench Simmons, and Thybulle did an exceptional job.