Why the Philadelphia 76ers' Playoff Woes Are Far From Over

As a long-time fan of the Philadelphia 76ers, it's hard for me to say this, but I believe the team is headed for dark times ahead. Here's why:

The Sixers' Playoff Woes

The Philadelphia 76ers have made the playoffs in the past six NBA seasons. However, the previous five playoff appearances resulted in the Sixers losing in the second round or earlier. The last four times the Sixers faced the Boston Celtics in the playoffs, dating back to 2002, the Sixers have been eliminated. With the Sixers trailing 2-1 in a best-of-seven series against the Celtics, fans are starting to see the writing on the wall and expect another second-round exit for their MVP-led 76ers.

The Purpose of the "Process"

The purpose of the "process" was to acquire assets to build a team that would take the Sixers out of the limbo of eighth seeds or no playoff appearances to a true contender and eventually win a championship(s). However, the past six years haven't been any different from that of the Sixers pre-process, with the exception of an MVP who has yet to be 100% healthy for an entire playoff series throughout his career.

The Current Situation

Despite current league MVP Joel Embiid missing the final game against the Brooklyn Nets due to a sprained right knee, the Sixers managed to sweep the Nets 4-0 in the first round, making them the only team to do so. The team managed a victory in the first game of the 2nd round series against the Celtics in Boston, led by James Harden scoring 45 points. However, they were stomped in the next game and lost the third game in Philadelphia. Game 4 is set to take place on May 6, 2023, in Philadelphia.

Potential Solutions

If the Sixers continue to struggle in the playoffs and fail to make it past the second round, there may need to be some changes made to the team. Here are some potential outcomes from the fallout:

• Doc Rivers is fired
• Tobias Harris is released or traded
• Joel Embiid is fed up and demands a trade to Miami, where he will be reunited with his old friend and teammate Jimmy Butler, and they will win a championship together.
• James Harden returns to Houston
• Tyrese Maxey, being the only viable asset, is then dealt for as much draft capital as possible to begin a new rebuild.
  

Conclusion

The "process" died when Khawi Leonard's quadruple doink fell through the basket. Every year, the Sixers have trotted out a new team with the hopes of "this is our year." It sounds familiar, doesn't it (Dallas Cowboys fans)? The Sixers have done nothing but chase the team they were that season, knowing it was the best team they had assembled, with no success. Hang on, Sixers fans, we're coming in for a crash landing.

The Bright Side

Training camp is 2.5 months away!