ORLANDO - From general manager Elton Brand’s preseason mandate he expected the 76ers to “win big” to coach Brett Brown’s confidence his roster was suited for a deep playoff run, the championship outlook was high in Philadelphia.Look at the 76ers now.All-Star guard Ben Simmons is out indefinitely after left knee surgery and All-Star center Joel Embiid has a banged-up right hand and sore left knee.
Al Horford was benched for a spell and underachieved in his first season on the 76ers.That added up to a mediocre 42-30 finish and the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference, far below what the Sixers expected at the outset.After two straight trips to the East semifinals, the Sixers are the betting underdog when the series opens against the Boston.