It was a crushing blow to Sixers and NBA fans everywhere, given how fun, enthusiastic and overpowering the team looked initially. Even a midseason acquisition of elite shooter Buddy Hield didn’t change the picture.

The "what ifs" are still there with the 76ers season. What if Joel Embiid had not injured his meniscus? They were in the mix for a top-three seed in the East — so no Knicks in the first round — and Embiid wouldn't have been slowed and dragging his leg around in that first-round series.