How the Golden State Warriors fare against each NBA Playoff contender
By Tony Pesta
6. Philadelphia 76ers
Falling one excruciating shot short of reaching the Eastern Conference Finals, the Philadelphia 76ers have reloaded for another shot at a deep playoff run.
At the top of their lineup, they have enough talent to compete with anyone. Joel Embiid is an all-time great when he is healthy and can impact the game in every single way. Meanwhile, Ben Simmons is on pace to become a superstar point guard with phenomenal size and court vision.
By trading Jimmy Butler, the 76ers have opened up a more comfortable role for Tobias Harris. The deadly 3-point shooter will have more freedom to operate and control the offense this season. Lastly, Josh Richardson adds extra depth with his specialty as a 3-and-D wing player.
Finally, Al Horford will assist greatly in keeping the show running smoothly. Horford will spend a lot of time at the top of the key, knocking down 3-pointers and setting up his teammates. This allows Embiid to focus primarily on controlling the paint, which is his strongest asset.
Size of Philadelphia’s potential starting 5:
- PG: Ben Simmons – 6’10”
- SG: Josh Richardson – 6’6″
- SF: Tobias Harris – 6’9″
- PF: Al Horford – 6’10”
- C: Joel Embiid – 7’0″
The sheer size of the 76ers is going to give the Golden State Warriors issues. Finding a way to hide Stephen Curry on defense will be very difficult. The biggest advantage the Dubs have is a far superior collection of shooters. However, none of that will matter if they can’t find a way to slow down Embiid.