Joel Embiid | Philadelphia 76ers (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
The Philadelphia 76ers are 22-12, clinging tightly to a half-game lead over Brooklyn for first place in the East. Joel Embiid is the MVP frontrunner, and Ben Simmons is playing the best basketball of his career. All that, and it’s tough to express confidence in the Sixers’ championship pursuit.
Sure, the Sixers have been in a much better place ever since Daryl Morey arrived. The Sixers’ roster no longer clashes at every position, and the chemistry that slipped away under Brett Brown has been restored under Doc Rivers.