Lazy predictions suggest the Philadelphia 76ers will be disappointing in the 2024-25 season

The Philadelphia 76ers are no strangers to high expectations, but they will be nothing short of atmospheric this season. Even with the tighter and tougher competition in the Eastern Conference, the public perception is that this time around the team is considered a top contender and a possible team to beat.

There is obviously no lack of talent in the squad. Joel Embiid, who was on pace to become the Most Valuable Player last season before a serious injury, is still at the peak of his powers and still has momentum going for him after his Olympic stint. Tyrese Maxey, clearly on his way to superstardom, will only get better. And as if the franchise needed any more star power, nine-time All-Star Paul George arrives as a massive beacon of hope for a team desperately trying to overcome a long title drought.

With the regular season just around the corner, predictions are popping up everywhere. However, it appears not everyone is convinced the team will make its 82-game slate in the 2024-25 season.

The race in the Eastern Conference is as tight as it gets, and while the 76ers outperform the rest by a huge margin, there is still some uncertainty in the eyes of some about whether the team will be able to compete healthy enough to stay to turn things around in a dominant regular season.

Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus recently released his win-loss predictions for each team, putting the 76ers at 50-32, a record for fifth place in the crowded East.

There is a universe in which the Sixers are healthy most of the year and destroy all opponents in the playoffs. However, that may not be our universe, and the team has had major postseason injuries (or mistakes) that derailed every run.

While a 50-32 record would be a winning finish for most teams, the 76ers are definitely not operating under a plebeian license, not with this roster and this collection of talent. Not even reaching home in the first round of the playoffs would definitely be a disappointment.

Sure, the concerns about Embiid and George’s health over the course of a long, grueling 82-game season are fairly legitimate and supported by precedence, but the 76ers are no longer built to completely falter in the event of an injury. Unless one of them misses significant time due to injury, it’s hard to imagine them winning 50 games and losing 32 en route to fifth place and barely making it out of play-in territory.

Hopefully the Philadelphia 76ers can make this prediction look pretty mediocre at the end of the regular season and hope they use this as fuel to exceed all expectations and even win a championship.