Creating Over/Unders for the 2019-20 Sixers’ Season
With Media Day having passed just a few days ago, we are now less than a week away from preseason basketball. Every year, Sixers players seem to provide a handful of quotes that get the fan base riled up during Media Day.
This year’s statements from Ben Simmons such as “If it’s open, I’ll take it” and “I want to be the best defensive player on the team” are specifically of note. Joel Embiid also seemed to say all of the right things, stating that he was down 20 pounds from last year and spent the summer focusing on attacking and shooting off the dribble.
Based on some of the quotes provided by the Sixers’ players and coaches over the course of the last week, creating some over/unders can be a fun way to determine the current pulse of the Philadelphia fan base.
Total Regular Season Wins: 54.5
Caesars Sports Book has the Sixers’ projected win total at 54.5, so in this case, their calculated total will represent the base number. Philadelphia is a top-tier team in the Eastern Conference and will compete with the Milwaukee Bucks for the number one seed. Last season, the team won 51 games with a much less talented roster. Even while considering the inevitable rest days for the starting five and the expected load management of Joel Embiid, Philadelphia should be able to win at least 55 games.
Over 54.5 wins
Ben Simmons Made Three Pointers: 9.5
Videos of Ben Simmons’ summer workouts, including his pull-up jumper, created a frenzy throughout Sixers’ twitter this summer. That along with his recent statement of “If it’s open, I’ll take it” project the idea that Simmons may finally realize the importance of developing a jump shot. The development of a Simmons’ jumper is an absolute necessity in order to keep defenses honest and create additional space for Joel Embiid to work in the post. Unfortunately, Sixers fans have heard this before. Ben Simmons can take all of the practice jumpers that he wants, but his willingness to take advantage of an open outside look has to be proven within a game atmosphere.
Under 9.5
Sixers’ Defensive Player of the Year Candidates: 1.5
Philadelphia enters the 2019-20 season with a gigantic starting five that will feast on the defensive end of the floor. While Tobias Harris is typically seen as an average defender at best, the rest of the starting five provides a unique combination of length and switchability that continuously cause opponents headaches.
Newcomer Al Horford prides himself on his defensive ability, while Josh Richardson and Ben Simmons both spoke at media day regarding their desire to become elite defenders. As long as Joel Embiid is healthy, the big man will be in the year-end conversation for Defensive Player of the Year.
The question is, will any other starting five members be receiving votes as well?
Over 1.5 (Joel Embiid & Ben Simmons)
Sixers’ basketball is right around the corner!
Featured Image: 97.3 ESPN / Mike Gill
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