Philadelphia 76ers Will See Real Improvement In 2014-15

By Dwayne C. Nelson on October 16, 2014

Last season was a disastrous one for the Philadelphia 76ers.

Philadelphia was the laughingstock of the league during 2013-14, finishing with the second-worst overall record with a 19-63 mark and tying the record for the longest losing streak in NBA history with 26 straight. The snickers about the 76ers last year actually started from Day 1 when they announced a training camp roster that included stiffs like Royce White, Kwame Brown and Tim Ohlbrecht. From there, things really got bad as their forgettable season unfolded though 82 games.

It’s a new season. In 2013-14, the Sixers’ marketing slogan was “Together We Build.” This year, it’s “Young. Fun. Run. Dunk.”

Oh no, the youthful and energetic 76ers won’t be competing for an NBA title and aren’t even close to making the playoffs this season. But oh yes, their roster looks a bit better in head coach Brett Brown’s second season, particularly when considering it was so awful-looking entering last season.

Veterans Thaddeus Young, Evan Turner and Spencer Hawes are gone, but reigning rookie of the year Michael Carter-Williams returns along with the Sixers’ top pick in 2013, Nerlens Noel, who sat out all of last season after tearing his ACL in college.

Carter-Williams will miss some time early in the season while recovering from right shoulder surgery, but, like the team, he’ll be better his sophomore year as he takes full control of the Sixers with the departures of Young, Turner and Hawes. Last season, MCW put in major work, averaging 16.7 points, 6.3 assists and 6.2 rebounds a game. Expect the same contributions from him this year.

Until he fully acclimates to the strength and speed of the NBA, Noel will have his share of ups and downs in his rookie season after missing an entire year. But his defensive presence down in the paint will be the major addition to the 76ers this season. The former Kentucky Wildcat struggled in his preseason debut (four points, six rebounds and a block) against the Boston Celtics, but he bounced back in his home debut against the Charlotte Hornets, scoring 10 points, grabbing nine rebounds and blocking three shots.

With the Sixers’ No. 1 pick in 2014, Joel Embiid, likely to sit out the entire season while recovering from foot surgery, the team will count on Henry Sims at center. The 6-foot-10, 248-pound Sims was a pleasant surprise in Philadelphia during the last quarter of the year last season and should be a bright spot again this year. Sims averaged 12.1 points and seven rebounds while shooting 49.1 percent from the field in his 25 starts.

Also returning with high expectations and big hopes of breakout seasons in 2014-15 for the Sixers are Tony Wroten and Hollis Thompson. Wroten, who averaged 13 points, 3.2 rebounds and three assists last season, will give Philadelphia some needed explosion in the backcourt, and Thompson, who averaged six points last year, will provide MCW with a nice and reliable target on the wing.

Record prediction: 26-56.

What do you think about the Sixers this season? Will they be better or worse than last year? Drop in a comment below.

Dwayne C. Nelson is a Philadelphia 76ers writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @dcntweets and like him on Facebook.