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http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/18431812/joel-embiid-thinking-playoffs-philadelphia-76ers-get-10th-win ↗

It was Embiid's sixth straight 20-point game, a streak in which he has played under 30 minutes in each game. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it's the longest streak of its kind since the NBA began recording minutes in 1951-52

@approxinfinity love this guy!

@approxinfinity love it.

@approxinfinity

I love the optimism but...considering that close the the half way point of the season the Sixers have the 3rd worst record in the NBA, the chances of them making the playoff are not good. Is it possible? Yes. Is it probable? No.

@JayHawkFanToo and with management knowing how deep of a class this is, they will do everything in their power to tank. Simmon's might have a "setback." Or they might REALLY limit Embiid's minutes after they are mathematically eliminated.

If that team can land Lonzo Ball, Fultz or JJ they get that much scarier. They are also projected to have the 7th pick and could land Monk.

A potential starting 5 could be:

Ball
Monk
Simmons
Okafor
Embiid

Now that lineup right there has some potential.

I just don't see a team that is 100% committed to tanking giving up a chance at an allstar PG. Not when next years class is supposed to be pretty weak.

@Kcmatt7 But they have to be careful because their improvement and, notably, Joel's charisma are winning the fans back. So many are so disgusted already that I think they won't go all-out into a tank. But they won't make any dramatic moves to increase their chances.

@mayjay This is not the season for that. They need a top 3 pick to get their future PG. There is a projection that the first 3 picks this year could all be PGs. And the 76ers need to land one in the worst possible way. If they land a PG and a shooter or another uber wing they can start that process next season. I think the 76ers with a 2nd year Embiid, Simmons, and a rookie playmaker at the PG could push for an 8 seed next season.

The only way I see them doing what you are saying is if they plan to trade for a veteran PG this offseason and make the leap to be a contender sooner rather than later.

@Kcmatt7

They have pretty much decided Noel is expendable and they can use him to trade for a veteran PG.

@JayHawkFanToo If Noel was worth anything he'd be gone already.

@approxinfinity Yeah, I read that story. Good stuff! While its laughable to think the 76ers could make the play offs after such historically bad basketball the past how many seasons? I think JOel has great great reason to aim so high and get the team to do the same thing. Of course, I am biased, but he is the best Center in the league, right now. I mean, imagine when Joel starts playing full time minutes! He would flirt with triple double averages.

@Lulufulu perhaps jo jo is dreaming playoffs, Rihanna and all star game.

@Crimsonorblue22

Gotta admire a man with ambition...

@Kcmatt7

Noel is not a bad player but his injury history makes him suspect. Ever since ol' man Oden, NBA teams are having second thoughts about bigs with health issues.

@JayHawkFanToo "Gotta admire a man with ambition…."

...and an obviously sharp wit, something the commenters to the original story seem to have hilariously--well, pathetically, really--overlooked in their massive hand-wringing.

@Crimsonorblue22 as do I! But Im not 7'2" or a pro basketball player having a pre All Star season.

I love Joel's ambition. He is wickedly entertaining too! The stuff he says on Twitter is Fried Gold I tell you!

@Lulufulu so just Rihanna?

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@Crimsonorblue22 Hell yah!!