PHILADELPHIA -- There is an expectation that comes with getting to the NBA Finals, as the 76ers have done, but falling short of the ultimate prize, as the 76ers are about to do. The expectation is that after making the arduous journey and coming up empty-handed, they'll have that little extra boost of inspiration and the additional knowledge to come back the following year and finish the job.

Not these Sixers.

Let's put aside the fact that there's no reason to believe the Sixers will be any better prepared to knock off the Lakers -- should they get another shot at them next year.

The real challenge will be getting that far.

Even if Larry Brown decides to come back and coach another year and GM Billy King finds a way to re-sign Aaron McKie, Dikembe Mutombo and Todd MacCulloch, it's hard to imagine this team getting significantly better. (Also keep in mind that president Pat Croce, who was instrumental in maintaining the delicate detente between Larry and Allen Iverson, is the likeliest non-returnee.)

The upcoming rule changes eliminating illegal defense could help, since they're expected to increase the importance of having mid-range jump shooters and a shotblocker, but league VP Stu Jackson assures me the new rules aren't going to have a noticeable effect on style of play or balance of power.

So why should that be a problem? The Sixers had the East's best record this year, didn't they? If they duplicate that, won't it give them a good chance to get back? Well, maybe. Doing it again, considering how they did it, is what seems unlikely.

This year, homecourt advantage was a big factor, and as we saw with both the Lakers and Pacers this season, making the longest march usually results in a certain malaise the following fall. The Sixers would not have had that East-best record without their torrid start, and with a full docket of offseason surgeries scheduled, it's unrealistic to expect another fast break out of the gate.

Then there's the rest of the East, which is dotted with teams whose upside is far more promising than Philly's. There are the Bucks, who have made the same steady progress the Sixers have toward a crown; they'll bring back all of their relatively young nucleus. The Hornets also have all the pieces, and should Baron Davis make another quantum leap, watch out. If Chris Webber finds his way to Orlando, as is his ambition, add the Magic to the mix.

The caveat to all this, of course, is Allen Iverson, who repeatedly defied critics who insisted a team built around a skinny, 40-percent-shooting six-footer couldn't get to the Finals. Now he knows how vital it is for him to get stronger, so that he can not only survive but thrive through a full slate of postseason games. Maybe he'll spend this summer in the weight room, so he won't depend purely on his extraordinary speed and quickness. I wouldn't bet against his heart, but I'm still not sure about his head.

Ric Bucher is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail him at ric.bucher@espnmag.com.