The last few weeks before the playoffs begin in any sport introduce new commentary to certain teams or players:
“Will (insert seemingly underperforming team or player) find that extra gear/second wind/etc?”
Let’s face it. It’s cliché. You can set your calendars by when this happens three or four times a year. After the Philadelphia 76ers got bounced by the Boston Celtics in five games last year, the Sixers decided to change some things up.
There was a trade for Jimmy Butler. There was a trade for Tobias Harris. Even though the Sixers had a team that went to the playoffs last year as a 3-seed and won 52 games, there was a bit of a punch missing.