Murphy’s law describes the Philadelphia 76ers season so far. The law states, ‘Anything that can go will go wrong’. So far, for the Sixers, everything has gone wrong. From the $100k fine to Paul George getting injured again, and sensitive team meeting details getting leaked, now they also have the worst record in the NBA. Daryl Morey and his board have it tough and a potential decision to make. Amidst all the chaos, rumors have been floating about whether Nick Nurse will keep his job or not.

In NBA history, only 8 out of 106 teams that started 2-11 or worse have managed to make the playoffs.

However, this Philly team has two crucial factors working in its favor. First, the Eastern Conference isn’t collectively performing significantly better, leaving room for a potential turnaround. Second, the introduction of the play-in tournament offers an opportunity most historically slow-starting teams didn’t have. These elements provide a slim but tangible chance for them to rewrite the narrative and aim for the postseason.

Also, the season has just begun. Very little time to gauge anything. Even the Sixers front office agrees. “Front office figures and coaches speak in near consensus that a team needs 20 games of sample size to draw any real conclusions,” reported Jake Fischer, an NBA insider.

Looks like a little more time is required before making any decisions. “Morey cares — and Philadelphia’s ownership group has consistently agreed — more about upside and high-end outcomes. So don’t expect any overreactions coming from the #Sixers’ waterfront facilities in Camden, N.J,” added Fischer. It seems the Philly boss’ job is safe for the time being, but for how long?

While the Sixers have the worst record in the NBA, could they pull off a miracle and hope for a postseason?

Can the Philadelphia 76ers still make the playoffs?

If the Sixers don’t secure a top-six seed, they still have the play-in tournament as a backup option. If they stay within the top 10, they’ll get a shot to claw their way into the playoffs. Sure, a matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Boston Celtics in the first round isn’t the most favorable scenario, but it’s not an impossible challenge to overcome. In fact, the league has seen teams pull off comebacks after poor starts. Just look at the 2022-23 Los Angeles Lakers, who opened the season 2-10 but ended with a solid 43-39 record. They made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals, toppling the Grizzlies and Warriors along the way.

The 2021-22 New Orleans Pelicans had an even worse start, at 1-12, and were 3-16 by November 22. Yet, they managed to bounce back to finish 36-46 and even secured a playoff spot through the play-in tournament before falling to the Phoenix Suns in the first round.

Now that Tyrese Maxey has returned from his hamstring injury, the 76ers likely have a better shot at building some momentum. Their upcoming schedule looks more forgiving, and with their NBA Cup run almost over, they might face weaker opponents between Dec. 8 and Dec. 20. It wouldn’t be surprising if, by New Year’s Day, they’ve managed to climb back into playoff contention, potentially even cracking the top six in the East.

The big question remains: What’s the Sixers’ ceiling this season if Joel Embiid’s knee issues persist? His slow start wasn’t unexpected, but his ongoing lack of confidence in the knee could be worrisome. (We’ve seen Ben Simmons hesitate to drive into open spaces, seemingly fearing his fragile back. It’s a saddening yet frustrating watch). On the plus side with the Sixers, Jared McCain’s unexpected emergence has helped ease the pressure on Embiid, and now that Maxey is back, that could give the team another needed boost.