The 2021-22 season was just one in a long line of disappointing campaigns for the Philadelphia 76ers in recent times. They have probably been the most disappointing team in the NBA over the last 4 or 5 years, having failed to even make a Conference Final in the Joel Embiid era despite having some talented rosters.
Even with all those failures, however, there are reasons to be optimistic that 2022-23 might finally be their chance to shine. The Sixers are armed with perhaps their best roster on paper of the Embiid era heading into next season and if James Harden is anywhere near his best, then they will be a major headache to deal with. Harden was recently asked about what he had to say to Sixers fans and he made it clear they are trying to win the championship.
“Another year to try to win a championship”
“Philly know how we comin’”
-James Harden on upcoming Sixers season To @AriA1exander
pic.twitter.com/3t0SjjCHDw
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) August 20, 2022
“Another year to try to win a championship, Philly know how we coming.”
Harden, for his part, finally seems to have taken this offseason seriously in terms of his conditioning. He looks in much better shape than at any other point in the recent past and if he can step up his game, then the Sixers would be hard to stop.
They have all the pieces you need to succeed, an elite big man in Joel Embiid, some great complementary scorers in Tyrese Maxey to go with Tobias Harris, and now a defensive stalwart in P. J. Tucker. If they fail to deliver even with all of this talent, then it will be a disaster. Harden has a lot riding on this season too after he took a significant pay cut to return to the team and if they flame out yet again while he has another disappointing season, then you wonder what the future would hold for him. For now, though, it is all rosy in Philadelphia and long may it continue, for their sake.
