The Key Player to the 76ers’ Success Is Neither Joel Embiid nor Tyrese Maxey, As Stephen A. Smith Makes Bold Prediction

“The Philadelphia 76ers can win the East this season,” asserted Stephen A. Smith after Joel Embiid and Co. routed the reigning champion Denver Nuggets in a nail-biting 126-121 victory. However, their success in the Eastern Conference won’t solely rest on the shoulders of defending MVP Joel Embiid, who delivered a stellar double-double with 41 points and 10 assists on Tuesday night. Nor will it be solely attributed to Tyrese Maxey, who has seamlessly taken on the role of the team’s lead point guard in the wake of James Harden‘s departure.

So, if the two primary scorers are not the key factor, who is the x-factor player capable of leading the Sixers to the Conference Finals, a feat they haven’t achieved since the 2000-01 season?

Philadelphia 76ers’ success depends on Tobias Harris, per Stephen A. Smith

In the latest episode of his podcast, The Stephen A. Smith Show, SAS unraveled that while Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey may play a huge role in the success of Philadelphia this season, it is Tobias Harris who will be the crucial piece that will propel them to the Conference Finals. The Sixers are currently enjoying the third-best spot in the East, and this wouldn’t have been possible without the 31-year-old’s contributions.

More proof of this came during their recent victory against the Nuggets. He came through in clutch time, shooting three straight buckets, when the Sixers were trailing by five points and Embiid was on the bench in the fourth quarter. Moreover, he shot 80% from the field—including 2 of 4 on three-pointers—and made all six of his free throws. In addition to his 24 points, the Sixers forward had five rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and a steal with a game-best plus-13 in 40 minutes.

According to SAS, the 76ers are doing everything right this season. They are among the top 4 defensively and they are averaging seven points more than they did last year. In addition, both Embiid and Maxey have been impressive. Therefore, the success of the team ultimately boils down to one factor  – “How aggressive is he [Tobias Harris] going to be?”

Read More: Joel Embiid’s Two Cents on What Defines Being the Best: “Win! No Matter Who’s Around”

He further explains that if Harris continues to show up every night like he has for the past four games, the Sixers would truly become an unstoppable force in the East. Notably, Harris has mustered up more than 30 points on two occasions in the last four games. In addition to becoming an offensive threat, he can also accept key defensive assignments. The 6-foot-8 forward successfully helped the team limit Nikola Jokic to just 25 points.

Do you agree with Stephen A. Smith’s statements? Let us know in the comments!

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