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Another walk down the beach...


So with the hurricane winds whirling along the west coast of Florida it's time for another Sixers season to begin - another walk down along the beach as it were through an NBA season brimming with promise for our beloved hometown hoop heroes. I myself have seen well over 50 of such seasons previously, each one as fraught with peril as with promise to be honest, and only a scant few that have seen the Sixers reach the promised land, or even come close.

But hope springs eternal each year as the leaves in the northeast start to change to their rainbow hues - look no further than the Eagles and even the Phillies this year to see the truth of that. So without any further ado let's talk some Sixers - and try to project what the year ahead may bring:

1. The best starting backcourt we have seen in a long, long time, with a fitter and healthier Harden looking to show he can still play at an all-NBA level paired with the rising star that is Tyrese Maxey looking for his first legitimate full all-star level season. We have seen the incandescent Allen Iverson paired with the steady Eric Snow, and going further back we have seen the stellar pairing of Cheeks and Toney, and even further back Greer and Jones, but Harden and Maxey are going to give us something we have not seen in these parts in a long, long time - just explosive offensive potential out of the starting backcourt.

2. Joel Hans Embiid embarking once again to prove he can lead a team to a title - a little less relied upon for offense, a little more focused once again on the defensive end of the court. Stay healthy big fella - this squad can produce more offense around you than any prior incarnation you have been a part of. Let the team be the thing and be the best you can be - that will be more than enough.

3. Better bench strength and depth than we have seen around these parts in damn near forever - we don't even really know who should be the fifth starter on this squad after Harris (our fourth offensive option!!) - but Tucker and Melton and Harrell and House sure are some solid veteran additions. Which means that returning players including Thybulle as well as Niang and Korkmaz and Milton and Reed are all going to have to try to earn and keep their minutes in the rotation or else be left with the scraps. Not to mention Joe and Brown and Springer and Bassey and sundry - who can foresee any of those guys even getting a chance to make any kind of an impact. So that is the deepest I have seen this team look entering the season in my lifetime.

Anyway, this being the modern NBA, I'm going to keep it to just those three points for now - and this team ought to be taking and making a lot of them this year to open up the middle for Joe and Tobi and the penetration from the guards to work - ok - that was a stealth 4th point I will concede...

So other than saying hey to my old-time friends who have been aboard LB for as many years as I have....

I'm still here alive and kicking ...

Keep the faith - maybe this year will be the Year - and - oh yeah - trust the Process!!!

Peace....

PS...Look for a big year from Melton - the sleeper addition to this team

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