Unlike their failures early on last season, the Sixers have had success so far in the 2014-2015 season by becoming the last team to remain winless. As you remember last year, the Sixers beat the Heat and Bulls to start the season, but only ended up with the second worst record, behind the Milwaukee Bucks. Joel Embiid can be great, but Jabari Parker, whom the 76ers could have picked up if they had the second pick, has shown flashes of greatness and should be a superstar in this league in due time. The Sixers can't let any players like that slip away again this season, which makes the 0-7 start perfect for Hinkie and co.
The player whom the 76ers nabbed to start the tanking process, Nerlens Noel, has also demonstrated that he can be a star in this league one day. He is currently leading all rookies in rebounds per game (5.6) and blocks per game (1.8). We knew going in that he would become a force to be reckoned with down low on defense, but he has been able to adapt to game speed so quickly. The area he needs to focus on is on offense now. He is only averaging 7.2 ppg on a team that desperately needs more offensive options. He is still getting his feet wet in the league, but he will need to keep working on that end of the floor in order to realize his potential as a star in the long term.
One player that has been delivering the scoring on offense for Philly is Tony Wroten. Sitting at 15th in the NBA in points per game with nearly 22 ppg, Wroten is discovering his offensive potential on this Sixers team. He is still incredibly young, in just his third season out of the University of Washington, and still has a lot to learn, but the Sixers had no idea that this is the type of player they would be getting from the Grizzlies two offseasons ago.
Wroten has been very turnover prone, with 4.4 turnovers per game on average, but that's to be expected when you have an inexperienced first offensive option on an even more inexperienced team. While there is no realistic chance he will be the number one offensive option when Hinkie's plan (hopefully) comes to fruition, but he has demonstrated the ability to be a rotation player on a championship contender, as a scorer off the bench.
The Sixers don't have a ton of pieces, but there are some available. While you need to find your superstars through the draft or free agency, the role players are the ones who make or break a team in the playoffs. With Noel and Wroten, the Sixers are seeing that their future contender has at least some depth to go with it.
Without further ado, here are the Week 2 Reverse Power Rankings*:
Off To A Hot Start:
30) Memphis Grizzlies (6-1)
29) Houston Rockets (6-1)
28) Golden State Warriors (5-1)
Beasts Of The East:
27) Toronto Raptors (6-1)
26) Chicago Bulls (6-2)
25) Miami Heat (5-2)
24) Washington Wizards (5-2)
Surprises At The Top:
23) Sacramento Kings (5-2)
22) Brooklyn Nets (4-2)
The Rest Of The Best Out West:
21) Portland Trailblazers (4-3)
20) Dallas Mavericks (4-3)
19) Los Angeles Clippers (4-3)
18) Phoenix Suns (4-3)
Playoff Positioning:
17) Boston Celtics (3-3)
16) Atlanta Hawks (3-3)
15) New Orleans Pelicans (3-3)
Contenders Off To A Rocky Start:
14) San Antonio Spurs (3-3)
13) Cleveland Cavaliers (3-3)
Starter Jacket Division:
12) Charlotte Hornets (3-4)
Exciting Young Teams:
11) Milwaukee Bucks (3-4)
10) Utah Jazz (3-5)
9) Minnesota Timberwolves (2-4)
Get Well Soon:
8) Oklahoma City Thunder (2-5)
Tankapalooza 2015:
7) Detroit Pistons (2-5)
6) Orlando Magic (2-5)
5) New York Knicks (2-6)
4) Indiana Pacers (2-6)
3) Denver Nuggets (1-5)
2) Los Angeles Lakers (1-5)
1) Philadelphia 76ers (0-7)
*records do not include Tuesday night's games
Biggest Riser: San Antonio Spurs (+16 spots)
Biggest Faller: Brooklyn Nets (-9 spots)
By: Dan Goggin
Follow us on twitter @BroadStBeat
One player that has been delivering the scoring on offense for Philly is Tony Wroten. Sitting at 15th in the NBA in points per game with nearly 22 ppg, Wroten is discovering his offensive potential on this Sixers team. He is still incredibly young, in just his third season out of the University of Washington, and still has a lot to learn, but the Sixers had no idea that this is the type of player they would be getting from the Grizzlies two offseasons ago.
Wroten has been very turnover prone, with 4.4 turnovers per game on average, but that's to be expected when you have an inexperienced first offensive option on an even more inexperienced team. While there is no realistic chance he will be the number one offensive option when Hinkie's plan (hopefully) comes to fruition, but he has demonstrated the ability to be a rotation player on a championship contender, as a scorer off the bench.
The Sixers don't have a ton of pieces, but there are some available. While you need to find your superstars through the draft or free agency, the role players are the ones who make or break a team in the playoffs. With Noel and Wroten, the Sixers are seeing that their future contender has at least some depth to go with it.
Without further ado, here are the Week 2 Reverse Power Rankings*:
Off To A Hot Start:
30) Memphis Grizzlies (6-1)
29) Houston Rockets (6-1)
28) Golden State Warriors (5-1)
Beasts Of The East:
27) Toronto Raptors (6-1)
26) Chicago Bulls (6-2)
25) Miami Heat (5-2)
24) Washington Wizards (5-2)
Surprises At The Top:
23) Sacramento Kings (5-2)
22) Brooklyn Nets (4-2)
The Rest Of The Best Out West:
21) Portland Trailblazers (4-3)
20) Dallas Mavericks (4-3)
19) Los Angeles Clippers (4-3)
18) Phoenix Suns (4-3)
Playoff Positioning:
17) Boston Celtics (3-3)
16) Atlanta Hawks (3-3)
15) New Orleans Pelicans (3-3)
Contenders Off To A Rocky Start:
14) San Antonio Spurs (3-3)
13) Cleveland Cavaliers (3-3)
Starter Jacket Division:
12) Charlotte Hornets (3-4)
Exciting Young Teams:
11) Milwaukee Bucks (3-4)
10) Utah Jazz (3-5)
9) Minnesota Timberwolves (2-4)
Get Well Soon:
8) Oklahoma City Thunder (2-5)
Tankapalooza 2015:
7) Detroit Pistons (2-5)
6) Orlando Magic (2-5)
5) New York Knicks (2-6)
4) Indiana Pacers (2-6)
3) Denver Nuggets (1-5)
2) Los Angeles Lakers (1-5)
1) Philadelphia 76ers (0-7)
*records do not include Tuesday night's games
Biggest Riser: San Antonio Spurs (+16 spots)
Biggest Faller: Brooklyn Nets (-9 spots)
By: Dan Goggin
Follow us on twitter @BroadStBeat
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