The Philadelphia 76ers are 21-10 in the Jimmy Butler era, ranking top-five in net rating and emerging as a legitimate Eastern Conference contender. Depth issues are undeniable — Toronto, Boston and Milwaukee still hold the edge — but the Sixers have enough talent to make noise in the postseason.
As people continue to pile on the poor second unit, though, it’s worth noting the impact health has had on the Sixers’ recent struggles. Joel Embiid, Jimmy Butler and J.J. Redick all missed time in the past month with minor injuries, leaving the Sixers shorthanded in certain matchups.