NBA 2018-19: Eastern Conference standings predictions 

#6 - Philadelphia 76ers

Predicted result (47-35)

Trust the Process - Joel Embiid (

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The 76ers were fantastic last season! They were the biggest surprise. After drafting the Australian, Ben Simmons with the first pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, they found a future superstar.

A triple-double machine, Ben Simmons joined the league and took it by storm. Many claimed that he should have made the NBA All-Star team in his rookie year itself. He himself was vocal about it when Goran Dragic was given the nod ahead of him.

But Philadelphia was not only about Ben Simmons. Philly's best player was the Power Forward, Joel Embiid. "The Process" as he is popularly known, Embiid was a monster last season as he was voted to the All-Star team as a starter.

Embiid averaged a double-double in the regular season (22.9 PPG & 11 REB) while Ben Simmons averaged 15.8 PPG, 8.1 REB & 8.2 AST per game last season. The dynamic duo were majorly the reason the Sixers made a major push towards the end of the season to push themselves to 52 wins.

Philadelphia were fantastic at home, notching up 30 wins. They struggled a little on the road but still ended up with 22 wins. 52 wins was an incredible effort last season.

One must not forget the outstanding contribution made by JJ Redick in the 2017-18 regular season. He averaged 17.1 PPG with 46% FG% and 42% from beyond the arc. Dario Saric also improves the shooting efficiency of the team as well and it will be interesting to see how many minutes he gets this season.

The 76ers had a decently successful Playoff run as well as they comfortably beat the Miami Heat 4-1 but then were absolutely thrashed by the Boston Celtics in five games.

The Philadelphia faithful have high hopes from their team for the 2018-19 season and having drafted Markelle Fultz with the 1st pick in the 2018 NBA draft, they have added more young talent to the roster. The only significant loss for the Sixers has been Ersan Ilyasova. The Turkish big rebounder has been traded to the Bucks.

Philly had an incredible regular season last year and it almost guarantees them a place in the playoffs this time as well if they can produce the same quality once again. The problems they will face are the facts that JJ Redick is not becoming any younger, Ben Simmons disappearing in big games and Joel Embiid not being consistent enough.

The pressure of outperforming themselves may be a bit much for the 76ers but they are too good to not make the playoffs. They may not replicate their performance from last year but they could still make the Conference semifinals once again.

We will have to just wait and see.