The Sixers Still Have Growing Pains To Work Out

Welcome to The Lab, FiveThirtyEight’s basketball podcast. On this week’s show (Dec. 21, 2017), Neil, Chris and Kyle discuss Kobe Bryant’s retirement ceremony and debate whether No. 8 Kobe or No. 24 Kobe is the Bryant they’d want on their team. Next, they break down the Philadelphia 76ers’ up-and-down season, taking a deep look at Ben Simmons and what he needs to do to improve his play. Plus, a small-sample-size segment on Kawhi Leonard’s return.

Here are links to what was discussed this week:

• Keep an eye on our 2017-18 NBA predictions, updated after every game.
• Chris wrote that Kobe may be the NBA’s last gunslinger.
• Neil and Chris on why the Sixers might be dominant sooner than we think.
• Neil made the case last season for Kawhi Leonard, MVP.