Joel Embiid has been the NBA's most surprising player this season after many believed the oft-injured 2014 No. 3 overall pick would never develop.
The 76ers star continued his solid play Sunday by scoring 20 points in a 105-95 win against the Nets, his sixth straight game with 20 or more points. But Embiid, who is now averaging over 19 points per game this season, made a bold declaration regarding his team's playoff potential after Sunday's win.
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"I think we have a chance. We've been hot lately,'' Embiid told reporters, via ESPN.com. "We've won three out of four lately, so I look at it, and I think we have a chance, and we're really figuring things out. We're starting to learn how to win games.''
Philadelphia coach Brett Brown was less open than his emerging center, but he too was pleased with his improving young squad that has now won three of its last four games.
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"We are winning basketball games more frequently than we have been, but for us it's still, how are we doing what we do?'' Brown said. "Are we doing our job? Are we not skipping steps? Are we putting in good days? And we believe as simple as that might sound, that they will add up.''
Philadelphia (10-25) were still eight games back of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference after the win.
Though the arrow is pointing up, the 76ers will likely have to wait at least another year before they make the postseason.