It has been 160 days since the Sixers last played a meaningful basketball game. In that time span, Bryan Colangelo has been replaced as General Manager by Elton Brand, Markelle Fultz has returned with an increased willingness to take jump shots, and entirely too much attention has been placed on wondering what in the world the Sixers can do to overcome the loss of the greatest shooter of all time, Marco Belinelli.
As each new development came about — whether it be the trade for Wilson Chandler, a sneak peak at Joel Embiid’s offseason workouts or Ersan Ilyasova taking his charge-drawing talents to (basically) South Canada — along with it came the narrative framing of whether or not development x, y and z was enough (or so damaging as to limit the team’s ability) to overcome the same Celtics team that ended the Sixers’ season 160 days ago, oh but also plus Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward.