The Philadelphia 76ers made the biggest splash of free agency Monday, signing Paul George away from the Los Angeles Clippers, as reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
He’ll be the latest all-star running mate for Joel Embiid in the 30-year-old’s pursuit of an NBA championship. Philadelphia’s title odds reflect those expectations, moving from +1200 on Sunday to +800 after the deal. The new odds are tied with the Oklahoma City Thunder for third-best in the NBA, second only to the Boston Celtics at +300 in the Eastern Conference.
In reality, though, Philadelphia is probably just headed for another early playoff exit.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
I can hear it already. This is not what Sixers fans want to hear in there moment of optimism and excitement. Why would I ruin the vibes? But it’s not that George isn’t a good signing for them. He is! He might just be a perfect fit next to Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
But here’s the thing. Philadelphia’s playoff success has never been about the second- or third-best player on the team. They’re destined to fall short of the conference finals because their playoff success is and always has been about Embiid.
OK, “destined” may be a tad strong. But you have to admit it often feels like some sort of curse was placed on the team each year Embiid suffers a late-season injury that impacts his play in the postseason. Which has often been the case before each of their seven straight playoff appearances with no trips to the conference finals, including five second round exits.
Almost as though the basketball gods refuse to let the 76ers thrive off the fruits of Sam Hinkie’s flawed process — which began after they lost in the second-round. A curse that refuses to let its grip off the 76ers until they fully detach themselves from the remnants of an ugly bygone era.
Whatever it takes. A torn meniscus here. A Kawhi Leonard buzzer-beater to the face there. Bell’s palsy?
At this point, it’s harder to expect that nothing will pop up to derail Embiid and the Sixers than to say something will. Only when the sides separate will either know true happiness.
More practically, the Sixers won’t make it past the second round because Embiid hasn’t shown himself to be good or durable enough to carry a team that far. Even in 2019 when the Sixers came within a game of the conference finals, it was Jimmy Butler who emerged as the team’s best playoff performer.
George — now 34, with his own injury history — is not Butler, and these Sixers aren’t as good as those Sixers. Certainly not as good as the reigning champion Celtics. And though Philadelphia’s title odds would beg to differ, the Sixers might not be better than the New York Knicks depending on how the rest of the offseason plays out.
On the bright side, a second-round playoff berth would be progress over last season’s first-round exit. But unless Embiid finally brings and sustains his MVP form through the playoffs, or Tyrese Maxey continues to blossom into a true alpha, that’s probably as far as they’ll go.
