During the NBA trade deadline, the Philadelphia Sixers opted to go all-in on a deal to bring in James Harden.

The Sixers are a team that is likely to be there at the end of the playoffs with a duo as terrifying as Joel Embiid and James Harden, if they can mesh the way they should.

Let's take a look at some of the reasons the Sixers are both contenders and pretenders.

Winning an NBA title is never easy. As we have seen with the past 20 champions, every team is going to need something significant to go their way. Whether that is an unfortunate injury to someone, or having guys on the roster step up more than they ever have. There is a reason why winning a championship is so hard, and a reason why we have seen crazy upsets in the past. If a team is going to win a title, they’re going to need everyone on their roster to be playing the best basketball they possibly can, and even sometimes that isn’t enough to get the job done.

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Sixers pretenders or contenders?

Contenders

2. Embiid and Harden are an unbeatable duo, if they fit properly

Nobody likes to speak about the possible troubles that may arise between Joel Embiid and James Harden, but there could be a few instances where this duo does not perform as Philadelphia hopes. The fact is that both of these guys have a rather large ego, and both of them may become irritate with each other when things don't go their way.

On the other hand, if Joel Embiid and James Harden don't fool around for the Sixers, they'll be the best duo in the league. The issue now is whether they can both remain healthy and play well enough to help them win the championship that Philadelphia has been waiting for.

It'll be intriguing to watch how they match up, but the pick-and-roll that both of them are going to run may be practically unstoppable if they're both on their game. Given that he has been either the best or second best player in the NBA through the first 60 games, there should be no doubt Embiid will continue to play at this level. There are still some doubts about James Harden after his poor performance this season, but with a new team, he may be able to return to his previous ways.

1. Isn't it true that you have to climb over the hump at some point?

There's no doubting that the Philadelphia Sixers' recent seasons have not ended the way any of their fans or players had hoped. People want to point the finger at Ben Simmons, and although he was a big part of it, you also have to blame guys like Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris for not playing great basketball in the playoffs.

It won't be easy for Philadelphia to climb over this hump throughout the season, as they will still have to face teams like the Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat, and other strong opponents that will make it difficult for Philadelphia if they don't play their best basketball.

Pretenders

2. In the playoffs, Doc Rivers, Joel Embiid, and James Harden have a horrible track record.

Having Doc Rivers as a coach for Joel Embiid and James Harden might backfire for this Sixers club. Doc has blown many leads in the playoffs, and this is something Philadelphia will have to address. Through his first few seasons with the Sixers, he has done a respectable job, but there will always be questions about whether he can truly get the job done.

Joel Embiid and James Harden have several post-season failures just like Doc Rivers does. Both of these players have never won an NBA championship, and with two stars as talented as them, it's an issue that they've never completed the task. There will definitely be some doubts about this team's ability to win in the playoffs and accomplish their goals, given that their three most important guys, their head coach and two stars, have little postseason success.

1. Can Joel stay healthy?

If Joel Embiid is hurt, the Philadelphia Sixers will transition from contenders to pretenders. Unfortunately for him, he has had to deal with several injuries throughout his career, and it seems like it's an issue that he has to deal with every season since he's entered the league.

The Sixers have little chance of winning an NBA championship if he does not remain healthy. If James Harden is hurt, Philadelphia's odds of winning the NBA title are slim, but they are better than if Joel Embiid is sidelined. Philadelphia would obviously hope that both of them stay healthy during the playoffs, and if they do, they should be able to achieve the success that they have been seeking for the previous few seasons.