'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Playoff success has eluded the Philadelphia 76ers for a while, as they are yet to win a championship this century. Last season, they were knocked out in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.
The 76ers are as formidable as any team in the NBA, and can make a run for the famed Larry O'Brien trophy. However, a few players will have to be at their best throughout the season for them to have a decent shot at competing for the championship.
Despite a first-place finish in the Eastern Conference last season, the Philadelphia 76ers experienced a collapse in series-defining moments in Round 2 of the playoffs. That led to an offseason-long saga with Ben Simmons that has recently been risolved with the player rejoining the team despite missing training camp.
Several superstars have tried to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a championship since 1983, but have failed to do so. Allen Iverson came the closest, featuring in the 2001 NBA Finals, where the 76ers lost to the LA Lakers. The finger-wagging Dikembe Mutombo was also a part of that team, averaging 2.5 blocks despite being 34 at the time.
The Philadelphia 76ers, undoubtedly, will love to compete for the NBA championship in the 2021-22 season. Here are three players who will need to produce big for them to have a shot at the title.
#3 Danny Green
Danny Green has won a championship with every team he has played for except the Cleveland Cavaliers, who selected him in the second round of the 2019 NBA draft. The 34-year-old has spent 12 years in the league, and has three rings against his name
The Philadelphia 76ers could benefit greatly from Green's inclusion in their roster. His effort at both ends of the court as a 3 and D could be key in their quest for a championship.
Green showed his shooting range for the 76ers last season, shooting 40.5% from the deep on 6.3 attempts per game. Defensively, he can guard positions 1-3, and has done a decent job patrolling the perimeter thus far.
Perhaps the most key attribute he brings to the Philadelphia 76ers is his championship experience. Green has won three championships with as many different teams across both conferences while being a significant contributor. His first came in 2014 with the San Antonio Spurs, followed by back-to-back wins in 2019 and 2020 with the Toronto Raptors and the LA Lakers Lakers, respectively.
A calf injury sidelined Green during the conference semi-finals last season. For the 76ers to have a successful 2021-22 campaign, Green will have to produce big at both ends of the court.
#2 Tobias Harris
Tobias Harris has bounced around the league a lot, but seems to have settled with the Philadelphia 76ers. In his fourth year with the franchise, he will need to take his game to the next level to help the team compete for the championship.
Harris started his career as a small forward, but has since played as a power forward, helping teams spread the floor and work in the post. He has continually strived to be better, developing different areas of his game.
In the 2020 offseason, he worked on his mid-range jumpers and post-up plays, where he displayed major improvements during the season. He had arguably the best season of his career in the 2020-21 campaign, as he performed well, and shot at an efficient clip too.
Defensively, he also produced his best run so far in the ten years he has spent in the league. While he is still miles away from making an All-Defensive team, his improved activity and understanding of team defense have been better. That helped the Philadelphia 76ers finish as the second-best team in defensive rating last season.
Harris will need to stay productive for the 76ers to have a successful campaign. He is the team's second-best scorer, and will need to play a significant role in their 2021-22 campaign.
#1 Joel Embiid
The Philadelphia 76ers will likely dominate the paint area all season long with Joel Embiid on the court. His versatility is sublime, combining the dominating presence of Shaquille O'Neal and the skill set of Hakeem 'The Dream' Olajuwon.
The 76ers owe their success in recent years to Embiid. Outside of his unofficial rookie year, he has led the Sixers to four straight playoff appearances, but has failed to get his team past the conference semi-finals.
Embiid has been the standout player for the Philadelphia 76ers, and his efforts have paid the team rich dividends. The 2014 third-overall pick will have to do a lot more in the 2021-22 NBA campaign to help his team, especially with the possibility of Simmons getting traded midway through the season.
Unfortunately, Embiid's injury history will likely be an area of concern for the Philadelphia 76ers. The four-time All-Star has never played more than 65 games in a season. Last campaign, the Sixers went on a 10-11 run with him, finishing the season with a 49-23 record.
Embiid's importance to the 76ers is immeasurable, and he is their best chance of winning the championship. He'll need to have an MVP-caliber season for the Sixers to win the title next season, though.
