For three seasons under general manager Sam Hinkie, the phrase, “Trust the process,” was laughed at across the NBA landscape as the Philadelphia 76ers failed to win more than 17 games in any of the three years.
In the fourth year of the rebuild and the first year under new general manager Bryan Colangelo, we are finally starting to see “trusting the process” pay off.
The 76ers have won four of their last five games for the first time since they won four straight in the 2013-14 season.
For most teams, winning four of five games is not an uncommon occurrence, especially considering the competition the 76ers have faced during this stretch. But, for this team and this franchise, it means a lot more.
It’s proof that this team has the potential to one day be better than its precursors. They’ve shown that they have some pieces to build around in the past, but this is the first time those pieces have brought sustained success. Joel Embiid continues to look like a budding superstar, even in reduced minutes, and as the season has progressed, forward Nerlens Noel has started to look better.
There is no denying that the 76ers need more consistent guard play, but we already knew that.
A strong backcourt is a necessity if they want to climb the ladder in the Eastern Conference, but they can worry about that during the draft. For now, their frontcourt is starting to gel and the team is getting used to winning. That is a very good thing after so many bad years.
Their success in these last five games comes from their offensive efficiency during the last five minutes. On the year, the 76ers have had a 99.9 offensive efficiency rating during “clutch time,” when neither team is up by more than five points with less than five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter or overtime. Over the last five games, the 76ers have had an offensive efficiency rating of 118.6 during “clutch time.”
A major contributor to their increased offensive efficiency has been Embiid. Over the last five games, Embiid is fourth in the league in “clutch time” points with 2.6 points per game and has an offensive efficiency rating of 126.9.
Just look at Wednesday night’s game against the New York Knicks. The 76ers were trailing by 10 with 2:30 remaining and still found a way to win the game. How did they come back? Embiid Eurostepped his way to a three-point play, banked in a three from the top of the key and hit a layup with Joakim Noah all over him.
Without plays like that, the 76ers would have lost. Can they keep making clutch plays on a nightly basis? Probably not, as they will inevitably regress back to the mean at least a little bit over the course of the season. For now, they can keep making big time plays in the closing minutes, finally on a more consistent basis.
Their skill level did not drastically improve over the last five games. Their confidence level has improved though, and all you have to do is watch their celebration after Wednesday night’s win to see that.
The players are starting to believe in themselves and their teammates to make big plays. That is leading to improved play in the closing minutes.
This was on full display during Joel Embiid’s post-game interview when he said this year’s team goal is to make the playoffs. Now, that will not happen, but the fact that he is optimistic enough to say that says a lot about his confidence level.
The playoffs aren’t in the 76ers’ future this year, but I believe it is no longer a question of if the 76ers will make the playoffs in the coming years, but how soon?
With last year’s No. 1 overall draft pick Ben Simmons returning to the lineup in the coming weeks and Embiid as the runaway for this year’s Rookie of the Year, the 76ers are no longer the disastrous franchise they have been the past four years.
The future is bright for Philadelphia, and they can thank trusting the process for that.
Edited by Eli Lederman | elederman@themaneater.com
